Interactive Telephone Screening Programs: The Employee Telephone Access Program (ETAP)
The National Mental Illness Screening Project offers employers and health care organizations two telephone screening programs which address education and early intervention regarding depression and alcohol problems. A core program offers depression screening and a comprehensive program provides depression and alcohol screening.58 Briefly, ETAP provides employers with:
* an affordable, easy-to-implement strategy to educate employees and their families about the signs and symptoms of depression and alcohol problems and to motivate them to seek timely treatment;
* enhanced mental health benefit visibility and utilization of services through its anonymous and non-stigmatizing approach;
* significant cost savings through early intervention, a time when mental health treatment is most effective and least expensive;
Additional organizations should be noted for their emphasis on advocacy and education:
NATIONAL DEPRESSIVE AND MANIC-DEPRESSIVE ASSOCIATION (NDMDA)
NDMDA, formed in 1978, identifies its primary objectives as education and self-help and support for people with serious mood disorders and their families. It has approximately 30,000 members sponsoring over 200 local groups, forums and lectures for professionals, a semiannual national conference, and several regional conferences. It publishes a quarterly newsletter, books, and other materials. NDMDA views major depression and manic-depression as biological illnesses that can be treated with medication and therapy.59
NATIONAL MENTAL HEALTH CONSUMERS' ASSOCIATION (NMHCA)
NMHCA was formed in 1985 as a network of local consumer groups engaging in a variety of advocacy, technical assistance, and self-help activities. NMHCA focuses on access to appropriate treatment, including medical interventions, and espouses a strong commitment to civil rights for people with psychiatric illnesses. Most of its approximately 1,000 members have serious psychiatric conditions. Many have experienced hospitalizations, involuntary treatment and reliance on the public sector.60
BRAZELON CENTER FOR MENTAL HEALTH LAW
Brazelon Center for Mental Health Law is a nonprofit legal advocacy organization. It is considered one of the leading national legal advocates for people with mental illness and mental retardation. Among other issues, the Brazelon Center focuses on protection against discrimination in housing, employment, and public services; reform of public systems to serve all individuals with mental disabilities in their communities; and improving access to the health care, housing, and support services of a consumer's choice. The Brazelon Center collaborates with local, regional, and national mental health advocacy and consumer organizations to reform public systems and encourage consumer participation in the design of new programs. Brazelon Center attorneys provide technical support for selected lawsuits with private lawyers, legal services programs, state protection, and advocacy organizations.61
In summary, people with psychiatric disabilities, their families, and mental health advocates have founded several national organizations and, over the last 10 to 20 years, have gained a voice in public policy, although not yet at the same level of leadership and political influence as those with physical dis-
