Mark Davis

Mark A. Davis, M.A.

Mark A. Davis, M.A., Behavioral Health System Special Needs Analyst for thePhiladelphia Mental Health Care Corporation (PMHCA) in consultation with the Philadelphia Office of Behavioral Health. Mark has received several awards for his outstanding leadership?both locally and nationally?for his work in the consumer/survivor civil rights movement. As a person who is gay, living with mental illness, in recovery from addiction, dealing with hearing loss and living with an HIV-positive diagnosis, he has consistently used his experiences and skills to combat stigma, inspire others in similar circumstances and affect change in both health and behavioral health systems. He is the founding President of the Pennsylvania Mental Health Consumers' Association (PMHCA), an organization dedicated to restoring respect, human rights and dignity of consumer survivors of behavioral health services. He has inspired over 75 consumer-run groups and services, coordinated cross system collaboration for persons using multiple service systems and affected the development of culturally competent approaches to care for bisexual, gay, lesbian, transgender, intersex and questioning (LGBTIQ) citizens, persons receiving behavioral health services, and people living with HIV/AIDS. Beyond Pennsylvania, he has been a speaker, consultant and trainer in 43 states for a variety of consumer, family, community and professional associations and his work has been featured in a wide array of print and broadcast media. He has also consulted with CMHS and SAMHSA on a number of issues, ranging from co-occurring disorders to state-wide consumer/survivor organizing. As a person who has attempted suicide in the past and who lost his sister Jennifer to suicide ten years ago Mark has a special interest in serving on the Consumer/ Recipient Subcommittee for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, dedicated to addressing this public health concern. He started and facilitates the Pink & Blues, a support group for person living with mental health issues from sexual and gender minority communities. In a drag with a tag persona, Miss Altered States and the Fruits and Nuts of the Pink & Blues, won Best Performance in the 2004 Philadelphia Gay Pride Parade.