Is anyone here a paid mental health advocate? Working with changing laws and directly helping the suffering? I've experienced first hand how broken and flawed the system is for the mentally unwell. When we are symptomatic, we are especially vulnerable and the system is set up to abuse us.

When we are hospitalized, we are often treated as criminals. Our possessions are removed as are our rights. Just like convicts. Communication with the outside world is shut down to a minimum. This does not happen the same way for physical illness and while it might be an appropriate choice for SOME people, it's not something which should be an automatic across the board thing. The list goes on and on.

I see what is broken and I want to help fix it. But how? I'd like to get paid for this as bills need paying and I can't afford to volunteer, even though I'd like to. Does anyone have a paid position helping the mentally ill? Tell me about your job, training, schooling and how you help. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I need to find a job I'm passionate about and mental health advocacy is my passion above all else these days.

I'm starting my journey by being my own advocate which is proving harder than it should be. It's a start but I'd like to expand and help others. I want to make sure that what's been done to me isn't done to others. I'd like to hear your experiences. Thanks in advance.

No, I'm not a mental health advocate, as much as I'd want to be one. I'm in the closet about my mental illnesses. However, I admire your courage and strength to stand up for what's right.

Not to get too political, but, like you, I foresee VERY big problems in the future with regards to healthcare changes. So I understand your need to do what's right.

I wish I had some advice for you. The only thing I can think of off the top of my head is writing books like Carrie Fisher did, and becoming a (paid) motivational speaker.

Thank Blue. My writing skills are decent. I've considered writing a book but then I realize my kids will read it and the stuff I could write which would get people reading is not the kind of stuff I want my kids to read. I'm not closeted, I've been in the mental health system for 30 years almost. I've done too much to hide it....people know. Maybe I could move out of my city and go underground but I think hiding is killing me so I need to be out and open about all this for my own health. I did hide it for years....back when I could. Those days have been over for a long time though. I did well in my public speaking class but don't know how easy a gig motivational speaking is to get your foot in the door. Who knows though. I've always been drawn to social work. I need a strategy and goal to work towards. Just taking a college course will be a start I guess. I want to take a class this fall if I can recover enough by then. Thanks for your input Blue. (((Hugs)))

[Leia78]

I admire what you'd like to do. I have no experience here so I'm just going to guess and say I'd go for a degree in social work to get started. There are so many people who need people like you. You're courage and bravery will do so much good. I hope you succeed! Wish you the best.

https://www.nami.org/Get-Involved/Wh...ealth-Movement
Advocacy Training - SEAP
http://www.who.int/mental_health/pol...acy_WEB_07.pdf
Speak Up for Mental Health | Be Vocal
VIDEO: Four Tips on Becoming a Mental Health Advocate | bpHope - bp Magazine Community
https://www.marshall.edu/jrcp/VE%201....1%20ready.pdf
https://afsp.org/our-work/advocacy/become-an-advocate/

I'm too crazy to write much but I hope these links will help you.

[leejosepho]

Here is a related Google search: patient advocate representative employment

In my own opinion, you would be a great advocate because you have experienced so much and you are rational, compassionate and well-spoken. I did not do much looking at the links in that Goggle search, but it would make sense to me to look at the types of openings available and then see what specific credentials (college or whatever) are actually required. Also, it would seem to me that taking on an entry-level, advocacy-related position of almost any kind at all could be a good way to get started in order to build a resume' that could ultimately get you into the exact kind of work you actually want to do.

[Wild Coyote]

You'd be great!


WC

[scatterbrained04]

I can't really answer your question, but just wanted to tell you that you would be incredible as a mental health advocate.

[Victoria'smom]

I know they have advocates for Special needs. I don't know how'd you get into that field case management degree I'm guessing.

[bukowski06]

Have you considered being an ombudsman? At the mental health facility that I worked at, there was a sign next to the pay phone where the patients could call for an ombudsman. I'm not sure what state you live in, but this was a service provided in California.

[*Laurie*]

Hi ElsaMars, I think your job idea is noble and so important.

I am a mental health advocate (I'm on my local mental health board, and I facilitate a NAMI support group), but no...I am not paid. My positions are volunteer. I do know people who are paid advocates, though! Plenty of them.

You guys are the best!!! Thank you so much for the kind words and your confidence in me. It means more than you could possibly realize.

Bukowski, I've never heard of an ombudsman and it sounds exactly like what I'm wishing to do. They say for true happiness, to choose a career doing something you'd do for free and mental health advocacy is something I'd do for free in a heartbeat!

Laurie, how did you get involved with Nami? I'd like to do that too possibly. Volunteering is probably a good way to get experience and my foot in the door in all this. There are so many vulnerable people out there, being abused without the ability to stand up for themselves and know their rights. Despite all my issues I'm still able to see when my rights are being violated and have shocked the professionals when they realize this because they are used to getting away with horrible treatment sometimes. I want to help those less fortunate than myself and in turn help myself and give more meaning to my life. Plus, my son is mentally ill and my youngest is in the autism spectrum so I'm used to advocating and want better treatment for my children going forward to.

Thank you all for writing and helping me. I'm really looking for out of the box ideas and things I never heard about and being an ombudsman might be just the ticket!

[luvyrself]

Originally Posted by ElsaMars

Is anyone here a paid mental health advocate? Working with changing laws and directly helping the suffering? I've experienced first hand how broken and flawed the system is for the mentally unwell. When we are symptomatic, we are especially vulnerable and the system is set up to abuse us.

When we are hospitalized, we are often treated as criminals. Our possessions are removed as are our rights. Just like convicts. Communication with the outside world is shut down to a minimum. This does not happen the same way for physical illness and while it might be an appropriate choice for SOME people, it's not something which should be an automatic across the board thing. The list goes on and on.

I see what is broken and I want to help fix it. But how? I'd like to get paid for this as bills need paying and I can't afford to volunteer, even though I'd like to. Does anyone have a paid position helping the mentally ill? Tell me about your job, training, schooling and how you help. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I need to find a job I'm passionate about and mental health advocacy is my passion above all else these days.

I'm starting my journey by being my own advocate which is proving harder than it should be. It's a start but I'd like to expand and help others. I want to make sure that what's been done to me isn't done to others. I'd like to hear your experiences. Thanks in advance.

--response I have had thoughts about this for a long time. Yes, I think that people with mental illness are treated shabbily if not totally incompetently. And yet we have to try to figure out what's best even when we are in a total fog. There is such a thing as an advocate, but I don't know if various state laws control them like they would nurse practitioners who dispense meds. Often people have family members who are informally their advocates, but no one ever did that for me.
When I did a write up on how to become a healthcare advocate for an internet how to forum, it appeared that anyone can call themselves this. However, then the person would have to build up a practice. I think this has not become a big profession because talk therapists are supposed to handle the advocate function, but they aren't trained in meds and feel like the docs are doing fine on that. Hah! Yes, there are some fine doctors, but what can they do in 15 minute intervals?????
I am bp2 w mixed states and gad. When I was working, I didn't really have the opportunity to change meds or even tweak them. I let the doctors make the decisions. Recently with the impossible 15 minute intervals I switched to a nurse practitioner and have switched off meds that (with the new meds available) just weren't adequate for me. Wow, what a change. Latuda alone is doing a great job for me.
I have followed your posts for quite some time and feel a great admiration for you. Message me and I will give you my personal email. Id love to share thoughts. Hugs!

[*Laurie*]

I got involved with NAMI by going to the NAMI Connection support group in my location. The training to be a Connection group facilitator came up and the facilitator of the group I attend asked me if I'd like to train. I said yes, and did. So I attend a NAMI Connection group, and I facilitate another group.

[luvyrself]

Originally Posted by *Laurie*

Hi ElsaMars, I think your job idea is noble and so important.

I am a mental health advocate (I'm on my local mental health board, and I facilitate a NAMI support group), but no...I am not paid. My positions are volunteer. I do know people who are paid advocates, though! Plenty of them.

--response. I lived in Cal for 30 years and i never heard of anyone specifically called "mental health advocate". Are you referring to county social workers or something like that? An employee attached to a psych ward or clinic? I was not on disability and would have appreciated any help available!