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Covering Mental Health:
A Resource Guide for Reporters and Editors

back to the mental health resource guide contents page.

ADVOCATES/CONSUMER GROUPS--

Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, 1101 15th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20005 * (202) 467-5730, fax (202) 223-0409, Web site: http://www.bazelon.org, E-mail: hn1660@handsnet.org. Robert Bernstein, executive director; Lee Carty, director of communications.

Focuses on protecting the rights of people with mental illness or mental retardation on such policy matters as managed care, housing, and quality control. Funding comes primarily from private foundations and individuals.

Campaign to End Discrimination, 200 North Glebe Road, Suite 1015, Arlington, Va. 22203, Mary Gleason Rappaport, communications * (703) 524-7600; Michael Malloy, campaign director, based in Dunbarton, N.H., (603) 774-6634.

The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill started a five-year drive in 1996 that is funded by a coalition of pharmaceutical companies and others interested in fairness to people with mental illness. The campaign works to educate the public, confront discrimination in insurance, housing or employment, challenge negative stereotypes, and ensure fair policies.

Coalition for Fairness in Mental Illness Coverage, 1400 K St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20005 * (202) 682-6039, fax (202) 682-6287. Shelley Stewart, chair.

Includes National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, National Mental Health Association, American Managed Behavioral Healthcare Association, American Medical Association, American Psychiatric Association, American Psychological Association, National Association of Psychiatric Health Systems and Federation of American Health Systems.

National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, 200 North Glebe Road, Arlington, Va. 22203 * (703) 524-7600, fax (703) 524-9094, Helpline: (800) 950-NAMI, Web site: http://www.nami.org. Laurie Flynn, executive director; Mary Gleason Rappaport, communications, (703) 312-7886.

This nonprofit group focuses mostly on supporting people with severe or persistent mental health problems and their families. It has a research institute.

National Empowerment Center, 20 Ballard Road, Lawrence, Mass. 01843 * (800) 769-3728, fax (508) 681-6426, Web site under construction. Dr. Daniel Fisher, executive director; Laurie Ahern, director.

Funded mostly by the Center for Mental Health Services, this is a clearinghouse started by ex-patients that promotes recovery and self-help strategies. Offers information on hundreds of topics, including holistic alternatives to symptom treatment, and support groups.

National Mental Health Association, 1021 Prince St., Alexandria, Va. 22314 * (703) 684-7722 or (800) 969-NMHA, fax 703-684-5968, Web site: http://www.nmha.org. Michael Faenza, president and ceo; Patrick Cody, communications (703) 838-7528.

Advocates for funding of mental health services and for making prevention a priority, promotes equitable and humane treatment for those who need mental health care, conducts public information campaigns.

National Mental Health Consumers' Self-Help Clearinghouse, 1211 Chestnut St. Philadelphia, Pa. 19107 * (800) 553-4539, fax (215) 636-6310, E-mail: THEKEY@delphi.com. Joseph Rogers, executive director; Susan Rogers, communications, ext. 288.

Offers information and referral, onsite consultation, consumer library. Some information available in Spanish. This center views itself as being on the cutting edge of mental health policy and systems change. Joseph Rogers has been influential in shaping mental health policy.