Snail marked February 10; Received February 13

I would greatly appreciate your assistance in posting the
enclosed letter on MADNESS.  Once I'm on the job, I'll have
access to it and am excited about that.  Thank you and best
wishes, Paolo.

Dear Friends:

Greeting and happy new year!  As many of you may know, I was
recently appointed to the position of Consumer Affairs
Specialist at the Center for Mental health Services (CMHS)
in the Office of Consumer, Family and Public Information.  I
am personally excited about  the opportunities that this
position affords in furthering the consumer/survivor self-
help movement and I look forward to working with each of you
in this new venture.

As this stage, I want to share some information on my
background and my initial thoughts on this job.

First,  as a mental health consumer/survivor, I have endured
a life-long battle with depression.  I am also a family
member of others who have used mental health services.  It
has not been easy for me to disclose my experiences as I am
a private person who covets my rights to confidentiality. 
In the past, I have chosen to share this information with
those who were especially close to me.  However, over time,
I have grown to have greater self-acceptance and self-
confidence so that I now feel proud to share my story.  I
have fought the pain, the overwhelming grief, the sense of
hopelessness, the despair, and the suicidal thoughts that
accompany this struggle.  There have been many days where
the idea of continuing with  life seems impossible.  I have
felt the sigma and discrimination that accompanies being
identified as a mental health consumer/survivor.  I have had
my rights violated and my; confidentiality breached.  I have
lived in poverty.  I have felt alienation.  I have
experienced social isolation and loneliness.  I have felt
the false perception of others that somehow I am a second-
class citizen who lacks ability and intelligence.  I have
had people turn their backs on me just because of my own
mental health problems.  I have felt powerless.

On my own path of recovery, I have chosen to seek a
wholistic approach that combines both traditional mental
health services along with alternative methods.  In so
doing, I am a past and current recipient of community-based
mental health services including outpatient psychiatric
treatment.  Additionally, I am a past and current recipient
of psychiatric medications.

Consumer/survivor-operated services have been especially
beneficial to me.  Through my involvement in the
consumer/survivor movement and with the assistance of me
peers, I have gained invaluable support, encouragement, and
the strength to persevere.  I have become empowered.

In spite of the difficulties I and many other
consumers/survivors have faced, I see reason for hope.  I
see this hope in the grass roots struggle that is happening
on local, statewide and national levels and I see hope in
this position with the CMHS.

I have been involved in the consumer/survivor movement for
the past eight years.  This has included: advocating for
individuals to ensure rights and services; administering a
network of local consumer/survivor-operated services;
speaking at statewide training events; providing technical
assistance on consumer/survivor self-help on a national
level; working internationally as the Co-Chair of the World
Federation of Psychiatric Users among many other activities.

I have also earned a Masters degree in Social Work with an
emphasis in social planning.

For the past several years, I have worked at the
Philadelphia Office of Mental Health where I focused on
systems planning and policy and program development.  This
consisted of assisting consumers/survivors who are
experiencing homelessness, individuals who have endured
long-term institutionalization, and those who are HIV
positive.  I have also developed anti-stigma campaigns,
promoted permanent housing options, and worked with a wide
array of individuals and organizations.

In my new role as Consumer Affairs Specialist, I will work
as a catalyst to ensure consumer/survivor involvement in
Federal mental health planning, policy determination and
decision-making.  This, obviously, will not be an easy task
and one that I cannot and will not do alone.  I will not
promote tokenism and I will call on the support and
assistance of many consumers/survivors.  I believe that one
of the strengths of our movement is our diversity.  Our
diversity in background, experience, belief, knowledge,
skill and talent provide us with the power and ability to
effect change.  We must respect and celebrate this strength. 
I will embrace this diversity in my work at CMHS.

I also believe that the other shared values of our movement
(including equality, empowerment, respect and dignity for
all individuals, mutual support, advocacy, choice,
protection of rights, education, creativity ... ) provide us
with purpose and strength.  I believe we must be true to
these values and I will continue to practice these in this
new position.

I look forward to developing new relationships (and re-
establishing some old one) as I assume my responsibilities. 
There are many challenges we will face over the coming
years.  I believe that we truly need unity and togetherness
if we are to succeed.

My sincere appreciation goes out to those who have already
offered their support and to CMHS for this opportunity.  I
start this new journey on February 21st and can be reached
at that time at (301) 443 2792.  Please feel free to cal
with any suggestions or ideas.


Best Wishes,

Signed: Paolo del Vecchio

January 27, 1995