MHIA Lab
Mental Health Identity and Adaptability
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Chacku Mathai
Consultant
Chacku is an Indian-American, who became involved in consumer/survivor/ex-patient advocacy and peer support when he was 15 years old. Chacku’s personal experiences with racism, xenophobia, racialized trauma, suicide attempts, and being diagnosed with disabling mental health and substance use conditions, including extreme states (a.k.a. psychosis) as a youth and young adult, launched Chacku and his family towards a number of efforts to advocate for improved services, social conditions, and alternative supports in the community.
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He has since accumulated over 36 years of racial equity, rights, and recovery advocacy experience in a variety of roles including youth organizing/leadership, community organizing/advocacy, direct service, training, and program leadership in Community Mental Health Centers, residential programs, and peer support, as well as experience with racial equity implementation through several international, national, statewide, and local board governance and executive leadership roles.