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Consumer Participation In The M.C.S.T
Editor's Note: In this Article John Depaulo describes his experience as an employee of the Massachusetts Consumer Satisfaction Team (MCST) as empowering for both himself, and those he interviews. John is an active leader in the Boston Chapter of M-POWER he also teaches classes from the recovery workbook for the Peer Educator's Project. Empowerment is the main word to describe the impact on mental health consumers through their participation in the survey process with MCST. That is, by volunteering to be interviewed in order to critique the quality of services being offered to them people can make a difference in their care. Empowerment is defined here as enabling people with psychiatric disabilities to take a stronger role in advocating for their own needs within the larger mental health system. In the past, surveys were given periodically and with no real follow through. After filling them out the consumer was probably left feeling, "Oh just another survey". From the introduction of MCST coming to a site to the finish of the last interview, you could feel a sense of urgency for most of the participants that being interviewed was actually going to give them a say in their treatment. Most people who volunteered to be interviewed were enthusiastic about answering the questions given by the team member. Personally speaking, I don't believe I interviewed anyone who did not complete the process. My enthusiasm as an interviewer was enhanced throughout the last year because I really felt a part of a movement that would empower and instill self-confidence in those who previously might have felt lost in the system. There have been changes for the better as a result of the reports presented by MCST over the past year to the particular mental health facilities. This is a priority. The other priority may be the empowerment and enhanced role of the mental health consumer in determining the quality of care for people with psychiatric disabilities and/or substance abuse. My enthusiasm as an interviewer—and fellow mental health consumer—was enhanced throughout the last year because I really felt a part of the movement that would empower and instill self-confidence in those who may have been neglected by the Mental Health System. Individuals who are empowered (or those here taking a stronger, more self-fulfilling role individually as well as collectively) counteract the concept which Judi Chamberlin has termed “mentalism” : the set of assumptions that most people seem to hold about mental patients, which those of us with psychiatric labels tend to internalize and also believe about ourselves. These “mentalist” assumptions include the following ideas: that we are incompetent and unable to do for ourselves; we are constantly in need of supervision; and assistance; we are unpredictable and likely to be violent or irrational. Through the survey process M.C.S.T. has tried to create what Pat Deegan has termed a sense of "responsible action" taken by those with psychiatric disabilities. Over the past year we believe our work has created "a sense of hope" for consumers and a willingness to speak out on treatment issues. Also, undoubtedly, a willingness for the system to listen and respond positively.
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