Consumer and Family Perspectives to Achieve Mental Health Equity

Severe mental health disparities exist in the United States, with reduced access to community-based care and poorer recovery outcomes associated with people of color, women, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender individuals. One strategy to reduce these disparities is to incorporate the perspectives of mental health consumers and their families into care planning and delivery. Successful integration of personal experience with evidence-based interventions can help reduce stigma and improve retention in care. To leverage public policy to reduce mental health disparities, New York City has launched ThriveNYC, the nation's largest municipal-level investment in mental health.