Consumer Council System of Maine

02/22/2026

What’s one small thing bringing you peace today?

Let’s skip the to-do lists and the big goals for a second. Today, we’re just focusing on the little things that make life a bit brighter.

Maybe it’s a perfect slice of toast, the way the light is hitting the floor, a pet curled up nearby, or a song you can’t stop hitting "repeat" on.

Share one small joy with us in the comments! Let’s fill this thread with some Sunday goodness.

02/21/2026

🔎 Resource Spotlight: Your Voice, Your Local Council
Did you know that you have a direct seat at the table to shape mental healthcare in Maine?

Our Local Councils are the foundation of everything we do at the Consumer Council System of Maine (CCSM). These meetings are safe, peer-led spaces where you can share your experiences, voice concerns about the mental health system, and collaborate on solutions.

📍 Find Your Local Council
We have councils meeting across the state, and you are welcome to attend any of them, regardless of where you live!

Lewiston/Auburn 2nd Monday @ 2:00 PM Rumford Public Library

Farmington 3rd Tuesday @ 1:00 PM Farmington Public Library

Bangor 4th Tuesday @ 5:00 PM Bangor Public Library

Augusta 4th Wednesday @ 5:00 PM CCSM Office (219 Capitol St. Suite 7)

💻 Hybrid Flexibility
Can’t make it in person? No problem. Every single Local Council meeting has a Zoom option. We believe that accessibility is key to advocacy, so you can join us from your living room, your office, or anywhere you feel comfortable.
Your lived experience is the most valuable expertise we have. Get updates on legislative changes and local resources. Connect with other peers who "get it."
Ready to join us?
Visit our website at Maineccsm.org/calendar to get the Zoom links and specific meeting details for this month.

02/20/2026

This week was big. We raised our voices, we shared our space, and we pushed for change. Today, we honor the "Rest as Resistance" movement by prioritizing our peace.
True systemic change requires sustainable advocates. That means honoring your body's need for a break today so we can keep moving forward tomorrow.
Wishing everyone a quiet, restorative Friday.

02/19/2026

Voices were heard yesterday at the State House! 🗣️ It was an honor to host Peer Advocate Legislative Education Day at the Hall of Flags.

Thank you to all the advocates who attended, and a special shout-out to Disability Rights Maine, Sweetser, and the Maine Association of Peer Support and Recovery Centers for their incredible partnership and dedication to mental health advocacy.

Check out the coverage from WMTW-TV:

Mental healthcare advocates said it is vital for lawmakers to hear from Mainers as they write policy, approve funding

02/19/2026

Terms of the Trade: Epistemic Injustice

Ever felt like your lived experience was treated as just a nice story in a meeting, while the clinical notes were treated as the truth? There’s actually a term for that feeling.

The Definition: Epistemic Injustice happens when someone’s knowledge or "truth" is ignored or devalued specifically because of who they are (for example, being a "patient" or a "consumer").

The Human Definition: It’s being the leading expert on your own life and body, but being told by the system that you aren't a "reliable source" of information.

The Systemic Connection 🏛️ This is a core issue in mental health advocacy.
• The Power Gap: Our systems often prioritize "academic knowledge" (degrees) over "experiential knowledge" (actually living through it).
• The Advocacy Link: At CCSM, we fight this by ensuring peers are at the decision-making tables. When we say "Nothing About Us Without Us," we are demanding an end to epistemic injustice. We aren't just there to tell our stories; we are there to provide expertise.

02/17/2026

Policy Tuesday: We’re Taking Lived Experience to the State House! 🏛️📢

Join CCSM and peer advocates from across the state for Peer Advocate Legislative Education Day at the Hall of Flags!

What is Legislative Education? It’s exactly what it sounds like. We are there to educate. You are the world’s leading expert on your own life and the barriers you face in the mental health system. Tomorrow, the legislators are your students.

When: Tomorrow, February 18, 2026 | 8:00 am – 4:00 pm

Where: Hall of Flags, Maine State House (2 State House Station, Augusta)

Why: To share honest feedback on what’s working, what’s broken, and why peer support is the future of Maine’s mental health system.

Mileage reimbursement is available for those not already covered by an employer. We want you there. 🚗💨

The State House can feel intimidating, but remember, these halls belong to you. We’ll be there together, side-by-side, making sure "Nothing About Us Without Us" is understood by all.

Are you joining us in Augusta tomorrow? Drop a "🏛️" in the comments if we’ll see you at the Hall of Flags! If you can’t make it, what is one message you’d like us to carry to your legislators? 👇

02/16/2026

02/14/2026

Resource Spotlight: Bringing BACK Peer Respite 🏠⏳

Today, we are spotlighting a resource we love and one we are fighting to bring back to Maine, Peer Respite Centers.

Maine has had peer respite in the past, and we know it works. Now, we have a chance to make it a permanent part of our state’s crisis response system.

What is Peer Respite?
Peer Respite is a voluntary, short-term residential resource for people in emotional distress or a mental health crisis.
It’s a "low-barrier," home-like environment operated by trained peer support professionals.
With a focus on recovery, self-advocacy, and wellness.
Unlike a clinical ward, it’s a place to find connection and community when things get hard.

The Status of LD 1843?
The bill to establish Peer Respite in Maine (LD 1843, sponsored by Rep. Roeder) has passed the legislature!

The Catch? It’s currently held on the Special Appropriations Table. The funding is set, but the state hasn’t released the Requests for Proposals (RFPs)
________________________________________
ACTION STEP: WE NEED YOUR VOICE! 📣
The Appropriations Committee needs to know that Mainers are waiting. A quick call or email can remind them that LD 1843 is a priority.
• Who to call: The Appropriations & Financial Affairs (AFA) Committee
• The Message: "I am a constituent asking the committee to prioritize the funding and RFPs for Peer Respite (LD 1843). Our community needs these voluntary, peer-run crisis alternatives now."
• Email: AFA@legislature.maine.gov
________________________________________
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU: 💬
If you could spend a night at a Peer Respite instead of an ER during a crisis, what would that mean to you?

02/14/2026

Happy Valentine’s Day from CCSM! 💖

Today is a day dedicated to love. If you’re spending the day with a partner, a pet, alone relaxing, doing something you love, or with a group of friends, we hope your day is full of joy (and maybe some good chocolate). 🍫

If today feels lonely, high-pressure, or just plain too much, we see you. You don’t have to have a perfect day to be worthy of care and connection.

Our Valentine’s reminder to you:

Self-love is a radical act. Sometimes that looks like a fancy dinner, and sometimes it looks like setting a boundary or taking a nap.

Community is key. We are proud to be a community that shows up for each other every day of the year.

You are enough. Exactly as you are, right now. No "plus one" required.

Whether today is a celebration or just another Saturday, remember to be as kind to yourself as you are to others. 🩹❤️

02/13/2026

We made it to Friday. But before you jump into a productive weekend or start feeling guilty about the emails you didn't get to, let’s talk about a radical concept: Rest as Resistance.

In a world that often measures our worth by how much we contribute or how functional our recovery looks, choosing to rest isn't selfish, it’s self-care.

Coined largely by Tricia Hersey (The Nap Ministry), Rest as Resistance is the idea that we refuse to be grinded down by a culture that treats humans like machines.

It’s giving yourself permission to do nothing, without apologizing for it. It’s realizing that you don’t have to earn the right to breathe, sleep, or be still.

The Systemic Connection 🏛️ Why is this an advocacy issue?

The mental health system often defines recovery with quantifiers such as getting back to work. While employment is great, your value as a human being is not tied to your paycheck or your output.

Systemic change is a marathon, not a sprint. If we burn out, the movement loses its most vital voices. Resting ensures we have the fuel to keep fighting.

For many peers, the system has historically controlled our bodies and schedules. Choosing when and how to rest is a way of taking that power back.

Rest isn't a reward for finishing your to-do list. Rest is a prerequisite for existing.

02/12/2026

Terms of the Trade: Mutual Aid

Mutual Aid is a concept that is often confused with charity but is actually very different.

The Definition: A voluntary, reciprocal exchange of resources and support for mutual benefit, usually occurring outside of formal government or clinical institutions.

The Human Definition: Charity is top-down (someone with more giving to someone with less). Mutual Aid is side-by-side. It’s a community taking care of its own because we all have something to give and we all have needs.

Mutual aid is a direct response to systemic gaps.
When the formal mental health system is too expensive, has long waitlists, or feels cold and clinical, peers create mutual aid networks (like support groups or community fridges) to survive.

Mutual aid treats people as members of a community, not cases to be managed. It recognizes that the person receiving help today might be the one providing it tomorrow.

Peer support is one of the most powerful forms of mutual aid. We aren't providing services to each other; we are walking the path together.