National Mental Health Consumers’ Self-Help Clearinghouse

The National Mental Health Consumers’ Self-Help Clearinghouse is a self-help technical assistance organization that was established in 1985. The clearinghouse handles thousands of inquiries annually from people who are concerned with mental health issues. Clients include mental health care consumers, family members, professionals, and other interested people whom request information and technical assistance about starting and developing self-help projects, self-advocacy projects and consumer-run mental health services. The clearinghouse also provides on-site consultations to individuals and groups interested in self-help group and consumer-run service development. In addition, it sponsors conferences and training events and has developed a wide variety of printed pamphlets and manuals on issues related to developing self-help and self-advocacy projects. A national quarterly newsletter, “The Key”, provides assistance to consumers, their families, advocates, and physicians.