On Our Own

The consumer movement in Maryland began in 1981 when a few consumers in the Baltimore area began meeting in the basement of a church in Catonsville. The group eventually took the name, “On Our Own.” On Our Own is the name of a book written in the late 70′s by Judi Chamberlin, explaining how consumers themselves can create their own network of support groups to provide alternative types of services to the traditional mental health system. One of the main activities of the local On Our Own groups is to provide peer-operated support meetings to the members.

On Our Own of Maryland is a statewide peer-operated behavioral health advocacy and education organization. We work with service providers, peers, and professional and community organizations to ensure that services and systems are trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and recovery-oriented by reducing stigmatizing practices and expanding consumer involvement in mental health and substance use policy and planning at local, state, and national levels.

A few consumers in the Baltimore area began meeting in the basement of a church in Catonsville. The group eventually took the name, “On Our Own,” the title of a book published in 1978 by Judi Chamberlin. One of the main activities of the local On Our Own groups is to provide peer-operated support meetings to the members.

Over 200 consumers attended the first statewide conference in the United States for mental health consumers at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County campus. The conference was sponsored by On Our Own, Inc. with funding from the National Institute for Mental Health, Community Support program (NIMH-CSP) via the Maryland Mental Hygiene Administration (MHA).

On Our Own of Maryland has a long history of preparing and training advocates to actively participate in public policy. The participation of consumers on advisory boards not only enhances the efficacy of those governing bodies and fosters quality systems change, supports the development of new consumer-driven services, and also increases the empowerment of the consumer members themselves.

On Our Own of Maryland staff sit on various advisory boards and councils focused on guiding the behavioral health system. Key ones are listed here. We have trained dozens of advocates over the years to take similar roles in their local communities.