Ending Discrimination Against People with Mental and Substance Use Disorders-Summary-Chapter 2

Course overview

Improving the lives of people with mental and substance use disor- ders has been a priority in the United States for more than 50 years. The Community Mental Health Act of 1963 is considered a major turning point in U.S. efforts to improve behavioral health care. It ushered in an era of optimism and hope and laid the groundwork for the consumer movement and new models of recovery. The consumer movement gave voice to people with mental and substance use disorders and brought their perspectives and experience into national discussions about mental health. The first-hand experiences they shared were often narratives of recovery and social reintegration.