Consumer Council System of Maine

06/02/2026

Welcome to Council Corner! Every Tuesday, we spotlight the incredible grassroots work happening across our Local Councils at the Consumer Council System of Maine.

This month, our statewide forum topic is one that touches so many of our lives: Crisis Response Services.
We aren't just talking about what's working, we’re diving deep into what needs to change. Local councils across the state are gathering to share their real, lived experiences with crisis services. Your voice belongs in this conversation.

06/02/2026

Join us this month at any of our Local Council meetings. June has us exploring Crisis Response Services further and collecting your stories.

06/01/2026

When we talk about mental health, we often focus on individual actions, like practicing mindfulness or attending therapy. But let’s look at the bigger picture: Housing security is mental health security.

It is incredibly difficult to focus on healing or maintaining mental wellness when you are facing housing instability, soaring rents, or the threat of homelessness. True mental health advocacy means fighting for safe, affordable, and permanent housing for everyone in our communities.

True wellness requires a stable foundation. Let's shift the conversation from just "How are you coping?" to "How are our systems supporting your basic needs?"

05/12/2026

Please read below and get the word out about tomorrow's Maine HOPE Conference. We are sold out and people will be turned away!

Please help us spread the word for tomorrow! We have sold out and people will be turned away if they did not purchase a ticket ahead of time. We just got another email with someone who received mixed messages that we were sold out AND that we would let people in that did not register. WE CANNOT!!! I hate to see people show up and be turned away. Please share with anyone who is thinking of just showing up! Thank you!

05/11/2026

We often hear that resilience is the key to overcoming hardship. But resilience shouldn’t be a requirement for survival because the safety net is full of holes. 🕸️

The Big Picture: When we don’t fund community resources, when we create red tape for support, and when we ignore the rural barriers to care, we are designing a system that is built to fail.

It’s easy to judge someone’s choices from the outside. It’s harder, but more important to look at the lack of choices available to them.

Let's stop focusing on fixing individuals and start focusing on repairing the net. We are all more secure when the system works for everyone.

05/05/2026

Save the Date! Our May Local Council Meetings are right around the corner.

This month's forum topic is Crisis Response Services. Join the CCSM team in Lewiston, Auburn, Farmington, Bangor, Augusta, or remotely anywhere in the state! to make your voice heard.

In-person and Zoom options are available for all locations. Check the schedule in the image

05/04/2026

You wouldn’t blame a house for leaning if it was built on a crumbling foundation. So why do we blame individuals for struggling when their foundational needs aren't met?

It is difficult to maintain mental wellness when housing is out of reach, reliable transportation is non-existent and living wages don’t cover the basic needs.

The Big Picture: Mental health struggles are often a logical response to an illogical environment. When the system fails to provide a stable foundation, it isn't a personal failure, it’s a systemic one.

We are all at risk of being failed by a system that prioritizes "fixing" people over fixing the structures they live in.