Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is a Mental Health Advocate?HistoryQualitiesTypesHow to Become an AdvocateMental Health Advocate vs. MentorImpactTipsPotential Pitfalls
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Is a Mental Health Advocate?
History
Qualities
Types
How to Become an Advocate
Mental Health Advocate vs. Mentor
Impact
Tips
Potential Pitfalls
Close
A mental health advocate is a person who provides support to those with mental illness. This can come in many forms, including providing emotional support and advice on dealing with theirdiagnosis.
Mental health advocates are not only the voice of those living with mental illness but also their hands. They listen, speak up for them, stand up for them, and fight alongside them.
History of Mental Health Advocacy
While the term mental health advocate only started to become popularized in the last 20 years, we can trace its history back to Dorothea Dix, a 19th-century activist who challenged norms in the field of medicine and advocated for the mentally ill.
Later in 1909, former mental patient Clifford Beers founded the National Committee for Mental Hygiene (now known as the National Mental Health Association).
Qualities of a Mental Health Advocate
What makes someone a good mental health advocate? Below are some of the qualities that many mental health advocates share.
Mental health advocates should be the following:
Types of Mental Health Advocates
What are the types of mental health advocates? Mentorship and guidance for those seeking treatment or who have had a mental health diagnosis is an important role that many advocates provide. However, there are many types of mental health advocates and the following list highlights some examples.
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How to Become a Mental Health Advocate
There is no specific credential to obtain as an entry point into becoming an advocate for those living with mental illness or addiction.
If you have a strong desire to help people with mental illness, there are several ways that you can become an advocate for this community. Below are different ways in which you can become a mental health advocate.
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Although mental health advocates and mentors both work to help people in difficult situations, there are some important differences.
Advocates, for example, focus on helping someone with a specific need or issue that is directly related to their mental health. They often guide navigating systems such as education, healthcare, law enforcement, etc.
On the other hand, mentors provide guidance and support over a more extended period, often helping someone build the skills they need to succeed. Mentors may focus on things like career development or social interactions.
You can find mentors at schools or universities that assign them to help students navigate college life or help students at risk of dropping out of school. They also work with children and youth in the foster care system and young adultstransitioning out of incarceration.
Impact of Mental Health Advocates
What are the benefits of having people in the community with mental health experience help others? Below are some of the positive impacts that mental health advocates have on the community:
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Tips for Being a Mental Health Advocate
Being a mental health advocate is not without its own set of hurdles. Below are some tips to help you become a better advocate for yourself and others.
Links & ResourcesThe following are some of the best places to find information on becoming a mental health advocate:National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)Mental Health AmericaThe Recovery VillageAmerican Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
Links & Resources
The following are some of the best places to find information on becoming a mental health advocate:National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)Mental Health AmericaThe Recovery VillageAmerican Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
The following are some of the best places to find information on becoming a mental health advocate:
Potential Pitfalls of Being a Mental Health Advocate
While there are multiple benefits to becoming an advocate, it is vital to be aware that some areas can cause stress or frustration.
It is also important to remember that you may not be able to help everyone you meet. Some people may choose not to accept the help and support of a mental health advocate, even if they need it. For that reason, self-care is critical.
Mentors are valuable resources for advocates to seek out whenever possible. However, mentors will not always be available to help you in your journey as a mental health advocate.Prioritizing self-carecan help to bridge this gap.
A Word From Verywell
In summary, a mental health advocate is someone who offers support to others experiencing mental illness. Advocates can be self-advocates, family members, or friends of loved ones with a mental health concern and/or care providers in the healthcare field. Becoming a mental health advocate is not just beneficial to those struggling with mental illness but also to the community as a whole.
2 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Women’s History Museum.Dorothea Dix.U.S. National Library of Medicine.A Full-Time Activist. The National Committee Against Mental Illness, 1953-1963.
2 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Women’s History Museum.Dorothea Dix.U.S. National Library of Medicine.A Full-Time Activist. The National Committee Against Mental Illness, 1953-1963.
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Women’s History Museum.Dorothea Dix.U.S. National Library of Medicine.A Full-Time Activist. The National Committee Against Mental Illness, 1953-1963.
National Women’s History Museum.Dorothea Dix.
U.S. National Library of Medicine.A Full-Time Activist. The National Committee Against Mental Illness, 1953-1963.
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