Increasing participation and involvement of people living with mental illness (consumers) within the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) has been a priority for over 20 years. In 1987 a motion was passed by the National Board of Directors to establish an advisory committee with the goal of providing a consumer perspective to the Canadian Mental Health Association. This committee, the National Consumer Advisory Council (NCAC), would assist the organization in carrying out its mission. Over the years, the NCAC has been instrumental in providing policy leadership regarding consumer participation within the Association.

The NCAC has developed this discussion paper in order to ignite discussion with respect to relationships amongst consumers and the CMHA Family.  This tool can be used by other organizations that may wish to examine their own relationships with staff, customers, volunteers or other stakeholders.

If you have any questions, please contact Julie Flatt, CMHA National at jflatt@cmha.ca.

Download Power, Paternalism and Partnerships (PDF)