Our organization in defense of rights in mental health was established in May 1994 with the objective of giving a rapid, adequate and competent service to the population of the territory of Greater Gaspésie/Madeleine Islands. Of the fifteen defense of rights groups in Québec, ours is the last one established. At the beginning, MHRAR-GIM made an official request for financial aide to the Regional Health and Social Services branch and obtained a total budget of $55 000 – for one person only originally based in Gaspé - to cover the region comprised of 6 RMC, in a territory of 20 447 square kilometers.

To better respond to the growing demand along the years, Mental Health Rights and Alternative Resources came to actually rely on a team of three people all based in Caplan: a coordinator who is also consultant, a consultant and an administrative secretary. The organization is also partly financed now by the Table of Community Organizations (TOC) and the Secretary of Autonomous Community Action (SACA).

Our goals:

1) Promote and defend the individual and collective rights of people or groups of people living or having lived with a vulnerable mental health.

2) Promote autonomy and “take charge” initiatives for people suffering from such problems.