FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Southwest Virginia Consumer Empowerment Council Forming

People who receive mental health services in southwest Virginia are meeting to create a new planning, advocacy and recovery focused organization under the Virginia Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services System Transformation Initiative. The Southwest Virginia Consumer Empowerment Council will hold a public meeting to introduce initial plans and By-laws on Friday May 26, 2006 at 10:00 at the Hemlock Haven Center at Hungry Mother State Park in Marion, Virginia.

Any person who has a lived experience in managing challenges to personal mental health is invited to learn more about this new organization and how they can become a participating member. Individuals who are involved in receiving mental health care from Community Services Boards, private providers or through self-management will have an opportunity to make a difference in the region’s mental health care system. By participating in the Consumer Empowerment Council, members will learn of the success  of others recovering from mental illness, receive and provide support and help lead the mental health care system into the emerging new direction of “Recovery from Mental Illness is Possible”. The Southwest Virginia Consumer Empowerment Council will be an organization run by consumers of mental health care. For more information, please contact Judy Salyer at judy@swvacfip.org