Testimonial: Advocacy Unlimited

Mental Health disorders affect a great segment of our society, either personally or through someone we know and love. Too often, those with mental illnesses are shunned and stigmatized. What we were asked to do was to present to the State of Connecticut a positive face for those with mental illness, and to show that recovery was possible. For the great majority of people who suffer at one time or another in their lives, recovery is indeed possible.

This program portrays the life of one person who stood up to make a difference for those with mental illness, as well as the organization she founded, Advocacy Unlimited. Yvette Sangster is a hero to thousands of people not just in Connecticut, but throughout the country. She is also a well-known speaker and advocate for those with these types of illnesses.

Her work has received the highest accolades from the CT legislature, the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.

Yvette has turned over the reins of AU to her successor, and is now a national speaker and organizer for advocacy programs around the US. You can email Yvette at ysangster@cs.com to arrange a conference or for guidance for your organization in areas of advocacy, public speaking, and many other areas of human development.

What we've created for AU over a period of 3 years, including books, CD's, videos and trade show displays:

You can order some of these products at: http://www.mindlink.org/au_story.html

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	Mental Health disorders affect a great segment of our society, either personally or through someone we know and love. Too often, those with mental illnesses are shunned and stigmatized. What we were asked to do was to present to the State of Connecticut a positive face for those with mental illness, and to show that recovery was possible. For the great majority of people who suffer at one time or another in their lives, recovery is indeed possible. This program portrays the life of one person who stood up to make a difference for those with mental illness, as well as the organization she founded, Advocacy Unlimited. Yvette Sangster is a hero to thousands of people not just in Connecticut, but throughout the country. She is also a well-known speaker and advocate for those with these types of illnesses. Her work has received the highest accolades from the CT legislature, the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. Yvette has turned over the reins of AU to her successor, and is now a national speaker and organizer for advocacy programs around the US. You can email Yvette at ysangster@cs.com to arrange a conference or for guidance for your organization in areas of advocacy, public speaking, and many other areas of human development. What we've created for AU over a period of 3 years, including books, CD's, videos and trade show displays: You can order some of these products at: http://www.mindlink.org/au_story.html return to top		It is with great pleasure and admiration that I write this letter of recommendation on behalf of Jim Mattingly of Rapid Exposure. I initially became aware of the quality of Jim’s work, after viewing a program that he produced for the Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery (CCAR), a program that puts a face on people in recovery with addictions and alcohol issues. I felt that the program was done with such sensitivity and artistic care. Advocacy Unlimited, Inc. (AU), decided to produce a video, CD-Rom and booklet to help reduce the stigma and promote the concepts of recovery for people with psychiatric disabilities. It was our desire, to portray the side of mental illness people rarely see, the hope and belief in recovery and an improved quality of life for persons with mental illness. Jim’s insight, creativity and sensitivity is apparent in the way the project turned out. The video and other materials have given hope to so many people with mental illness both in our state of Connecticut and on a national level. People all over the country are using the video for leadership training and to bring to light what is possible for people with mental illness in their states. The response that we have had about the video and materials has all been positive. Jim's work for both CCAR and AU, has greatly influence the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) through these recovery stories. I can’t help but believe that the work Jim has done helped to enlighten the department to the possibilities of recovery. As an example, over the last two years CCAR and AU has been trying to influence the DMHAS to adopt a set of recovery core values to use in the development and delivery of services. DMHAS has adopted these recovery core values, in addition the Commissioner of the DMHAS has developed a recovery policy making Connecticut unique as its system of care will now focus on recovery and the quality of life in the treatment of people in recovery with mental illness and addictions. So much so that DMHAS has hired Jim to produce the recovery core values in a video that will be used to train employees of DMHAS. A picture is in deed worth a thousand words. Advocacy Unlimited has gained from and uses the materials in several ways: * Promotion of recovery concepts with service providers * Fundraising * Hope, and support to people in recovery * Reduction of stigma in the legislator and general public * Promotion of AU programs to new students * Introduction to AU for new Board Members * On Public television to help erase stigma in the general public I would recommend Jim to any group whose mission is to portray their organization in a positive light, especially in areas of human interest and the need for compassion and understanding. Yvette Sangster, Founder, Advocacy Unlimited, Inc.

Yvette Sangster, Founder, Advocacy Unlimited, Inc.

Yvette Sangster,
Founder, Advocacy Unlimited, Inc.