Many people living with mental illnesses live in relative isolation within their own communities.  Mental health symptoms and the stigma associated the mental illness sometimes present significant barriers to individuals to becoming more actively involved at home. 

Some mental health consumers are eager to get involved, but are not necessarily interested in working as Peer Support Specialists or other forms of paid employment.  Fortunately, for every individual there are many opportunities to break out of restrictive “patient” or “consumer” roles and get more involved in the communities in which they live.  On-line or “virtual” communities provide additional alternatives for people in recovery. 

This section of the website provides information about a number of means by which mental health consumers can experience the rights and responsibilities of full community participation.