Consumer Action Network Mental Health Lanka, called CAN MH Lanka, was established in 2012, aiming to empower mental health consumers and improve the awareness about mental health in the community. It consists of around 70 active and nominal member consumer organizations countrywide.
The board of directors consists of 05 members, including persons experiencing mental health problems and their carers. There is an advisory board composed of mental health professionals, experts in different sectors, and persons with psychosocial disabilities.
CAN MH Lanka was established to address the issues and gaps in the mental health and development sector favouring vulnerable groups, especially persons with psychosocial disabilities and other disabilities; women, men, youth, and children affected by armed conflicts and disasters, etc.
Promoting mental well-being, preventing suicides, advocating for rights and reducing societal stigma through sharing life experience are the prioritized areas of CAN MH Lanka.
Since its inception, the CANMH continued with the Butterfly Campaign during the mental health month nationally and provincially. CAN MH Lanka introduced the butterfly symbol and organized programs to make awareness in the community from school children to the president of the state.
Its members have developed their employments under the guidance of the organization. CANMH Lanka is also an active contributor in mental health policy and legislation development while playing an active role in the cross-disability advocacy movement of Sri Lanka.
CAN MH Lanka represent Sri Lanka in global and regional forums on constitutional reforms in compliance with UNCRPD, voting rights, budgetary allocations for disability issues, sensitizing the responsible stakeholders, including high-risk groups on suicide prevention & mental well-being.
