The mental health system: Experiences from both sides of the locked doors

Although people who have been diagnosed and treated for serious mental illness are visible as advocates and for some new paying jobs within public mental health systems, there are few psychologists actively engaged in the emerging models of consumer-provider collaboration. The key values and concepts of the consumer, and even more so the psychiatric survivor, have received too little attention. The lack of information, dialogue, and trust sustains an adversarial relationship that prevents the respectful sharing of expertise attained from different learning experiences. The knowledge gleaned from consumer/survivors' personal experiences can provide a rich resource for everyone who attempts to aid individuals engaged in the struggle to deal with these painful life circumstances.