Beyond the service paradigm: The impact and implications of consumer/survivor initiatives

The purpose of this paper is to examine three key aspects of consumer/survivor controlled organizations: the range of activities carried out by these groups; the impact of involvement as reported by par ticipants, and the relative importance concumer/survivors attach to these organizations as components of the mental health system. The implications of these findings for mental healthy policy will also be examined. Consumer/survivor organizations are defined as being operated for; and controlled and staffed by, people who have used the mental health system. The data for this study are taken from the Consumer/Survivor Development Initiative, a program in Ontario, Canada, which at the time of study, directly funded 36 organizations.