Sally Zinman
(as published by the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Committee.)
Sally was born in 1937. She received her B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania, graduating in English with honors. She also has an M.A. in English from the University of Pennsylvania. She is a single mother.
From 1977 to 1983, Sally was the Founder and Coordinator of the Mental Patients Rights Association in Palm Beach County, Florida. She administered this client-run organization which developed and operated a community center and residence program.
From 1983-1985, Sally was the Co-editor of Madness Network News, which was the journalistic voice of the mental patient movement from 1973-1987.
From 1983-84, Sally was the Founding Member and first staff (Coordinator) of the California Network of Mental Health Clients.
In 1989, Sally was the Founding Member of the Alameda County Network of Mental Health Clients, a self-help umbrella organization for county self-help groups.
From 1983-1993, Sally was the Founding Member of the Self-Help Committee of the California Network of Mental Health Clients, serving as Facilitator from 1987-1989, and remained an active member until 1993.
From 1985-1997, Sally was the Founder and Coordinator of the Coalition for Alternatives in Mental Health, aka Berkeley Drop-In Center. This Center, run for and by persons with mental disabilities, consists of a drop-in component, providing socialization, support groups, information and referral, food service, and phone use. The Center has an advocacy services component, which includes money management and a payee representation program, and assistance in obtaining benefits. The Center has a housing program consisting of a client-run housing compound and 60 plus subsidized units of supportive housing. The Center also provides job training and experience through a trainee program.
Sally Zinman
From 1997 to 2007, Sally was the Executive Director of the California Network of Mental Health Clients, a statewide self-help and advocacy organization run for and by mental health clients/survivors.
Sally has been on numerous Boards and Committees including:
• Mental Health Law Project (Now called Bazelon Center), Board of Directors, 1980-1983
• Editorial Board, Psycho-Social Rehabilitation Journal, 1982-1994
• Berkeley/Albany Mental Health Commission, 1986-1995
• Alameda County Network of Mental Health Clients, 1990-1997
• California Network of Mental Health Clients, off and on, 1984-1996
• National Association of Psychiatric Survivors, 1985-1994
• Center for Self-Help Research, 1990-1993
• National Planning Committee, Self-Help Live, 1991-1993
• National Empowerment Center, 1992-1993
• Coalition on the Media Stigma of People with Psychiatric Disabilities, 1992-1993
• Berkeley Cares, 1995-1997
• South Berkeley Neighborhood Development Corporation, 1995-1997
• Disability rights Advocates Distribution Committee, 1996 – present.
Sally has credits in writing, film, and video, including:
• “Dangers arising from Mental Health Legal Advocacy, Advocacy Now, the Journal of Patients Advocacy, 2:2, June 1980.
• “A Patient-Run Residencyâ€, Psycho-Social Rehabilitation Journal, 6:1, 1982.
• “Self-Help: The Wave of the Futureâ€, Hospital and Community Psychiatry, 37:3, March 1986.
• “Maintaining Our Roots: The Challenge for Self-Help Developmentâ€, Self Helper, 6:2, Spring 1991. (with Howie T. Harp)
• “Crazy Women, Madness, Myth and Metaphorâ€, Midwest Films, 1990.
• “Museums of Madnessâ€, BBC/PBS, 1991.
Sally has received several awards from mental health associations and from elected officials including former Congressman, now Mayor, Ronald V. Dellums, former Assemblyman Tom Bates, and former Mayor, Loni Hancock.
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