I aim to launch a non-profit Mental Health GPS roadmap service in the U.S. The idea is based on the fact that because of the fractious and confusing nature of the mental health system, people have no idea who to call when a mental health challenge strikes - usually they call 911 which is only appropriate in real emergencies. Or they head to Google where they are misled by ads, and become more confused, often not even knowing what to look for. There are various hotlines and web sites that list services in most areas, but what is missing is a person to help the family navigate through the system and find appropriate care. The service will be manned by peers (people with lived experience in recovery) and peer family members (who have lived through often long and painful recovery journeys with their loved one)- who have been trained as ‘navigators’.
I already have some peers and family members who want to be part of it, and I am working on fundraising now. It is certainly a challenging time to try to launch anything, but here we are.
Yes #data! Welcome to the SEIP Forum Judy!! Very happy to see you here.