Family advocacy and the mental health system: the recent rise of the alliance for the mentally ill.

The family consumer movement arose as a response to deinstitutionalization and the removal of stigma from parents of mental health clients. In many states the families are a dynamic force in mental health policymaking. If mental health professionals are to collaborate in support and advocacy programs, they should be aware of the origins and goals of the movement. Through their national organization (AMI), families advocate a biological view of mental illness causation and increased power for the mental health system. If the system is unable to meet parent expectations, it is likely that families will place themselves in competition with existing agencies for available resources.