Peter Ashenden is the former Executive Director of the Mental Health Empowerment Project (MHEP), a not-for-profit corporation organized to develop and strengthen self-help and mutual support/recovery activities throughout New York State for recipients of mental health services. He is a frequent speaker at mental health and recovery conferences and as a consumer/survivor he brings firsthand experience and insights to his presentations and consulting services. Peter is certified by Mary Ellen Copeland to train recipients of mental health services in the Wellness Recovery Action Plan; is also a member of the Copeland Speaker’s Bureau and is a member of the Advisory Committee to Mary Ellen Copeland’s Wellness Recovery Center.

Peter moved to Chicago in 2007 to become the Vice President of the Depression & Bipolar Support Alliance. During his tenure with MHEP, Peter provided recovery-focused trainings to other consumers and mental health professionals. He is widely acknowledged as a leading consumer advocate and has started many self-help groups.

Peter has been an active member of numerous boards. He is a former Commissioner of the Certification Commission of USPRA (formerly IAPSRS) and a former board member for the Baltic Street Mental Health Board. Additionally, he is an Executive Committee Member and the USPRA representative for the New York Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services, (NYAPRS).

He is a past member of the CARF (the Accreditation Association) Board and a current member of the CARF International Advisory Committee. He is a former member of the Board of PEOPLe, Inc., the Mental Health Association of New York State (MHANYS), and is a past Treasurer for the Peer Accreditation Project of New York State.

Depression and Bi-Polar Support Alliance