Amarillo Area Mental Health Consumers/Agape Center

Amarillo Area Mental Health Consumers/Agape Center(AAMHC) was formed in 1996 by a group of peers who were interested in learning more about empowerment, advocacy, and participation in the community. The primary mission of Amarillo Area Mental Health Consumers is to organize, encourage, educate, and train people with mental illness to advocate for themselves and support each other in their recovery. Our vision is the integration of mental health consumers into the community as productive, functional, valued citizens. In 1998 AAMHC achieved non-profit 501(C)(3) status, and in the year 2002, AAMHC became a satellite organization providing peer support services under the auspices of Texas Mental Health Consumers. Over the passage of time, AAMHC evolved into an independent peer support recovery center.

Amarillo Area Mental Health Consumers partners with local mental health stakeholders by providing a peer- operated day program that is open 18 to 22 hours a week. Organizations in the mental health network frequently refer their clients to our day program so they can benefit from recovery-based activities. Our daily programming consists of mental health education groups, peer support groups, GED training, computer workshops, exercise and yoga groups, art groups, vocational assistance, social outings, and independent living skills training. The AAMHC membership participates in the Tri-State Fair every year by entering their art work in the competitions. We have several ribbon holders from multiple years. Engaging in art brings healing to our mental health clients, and it gives them a sense of accomplishment.

AAMHC has a robust cross-referral mechanism whereby we send our clients to Texas Panhandle Centers or Northwest Texas Behavioral Hospital (inpatient hospital) if they need emergency hospitalization, medication support, counseling, or transition assistance from homelessness to homes. Conversely, social workers from Northwest Texas Behavioral Hospital and Texas Panhandle Centers refer clients to our peer recovery center after they get discharged from hospitalization. This gives former patients some daily support during vulnerable periods in their lives. This collaborative relationship has existed for 20 years and has only grown in the past decade.

AAMHC staff and board advocate for mental health consumers individually, locally, and statewide. Often we partner with NAMI Texas Panhandle to assist in making lives better for the mental health consumers in our community. Our range of advocacy has included local efforts to secure better treatment for mental health peers to pressing state representatives for systemic changes in the delivery and funding of Texas mental health care. While the board and staff pursue social justice, the goal is to encourage our members to become their own best advocates as they navigate through the mental health system. AAMHC staff and membership help clients transition from homelessness to homes, and this is accomplished through collaboration with our local mental health authority and thrift stores. If the staff notices that one of our clients is homeless, they refer them to the Texas Panhandle Centers homeless services division, so they can apply for a Shelter Plus Care stipend to obtain an apartment. After clients secure an apartment, the staff helps them access furniture, bedding, cooking supplies, and home starter kits. We also help clients move their furniture and personal items to their new apartments. While attaining shelter stability, the clients attend our recovery program to achieve mental stability.

We do believe that mental health recovery is possible, and that this belief is necessary for the clients and membership to get better.

Click here for our Facebook link: Amarillo Area Mental Health Consumers