Mental Health Association of Portland (MHAP)

The Mental Health Association of Portland is Oregon’s impartial and independent advocate for persons with mental illness and addiction. Their task is to help persons with mental illness or addiction speak up and speak out – and to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves. It is a 501 C 3 nonprofit organization, tax identification 20-0138570, governed by peer volunteers since 2003. The organization maintains advisory councils and committees for individual educational and advocacy projects, and is a member of the Oregon Council for Behavioral Health.

Their advocacy experience is strong. In 2003 our advocacy at the Oregon State Hospital made the New York Times front page, won The Oregonian a Pulitzer, and launched an investigation which got the hospital rebuilt. Their advocacy on behalf of persons routinely harmed by law enforcement has been front page news since the death of James Chasse in 2006. Their advocacy has changed policies and procedures by patrol officers, jail deputies, prosecuting and defense attorneys, judges and court administrators. Their critically acclaimed and award-winning documentary film from 2014, Alien Boy: The Life and Death of James Chasse has been distributed internationally.