Our Beginning

Christopher Camilleri, M.D., Psychiatrist Co-Founder

My twenties had been devastated by severe, clinical depression and I had all but given up hope in myself and my future. I eventually sought and obtained the help I needed. I gradually regained hope and with persistence, began to recover. I eventually continued my education by attending Brown University Medical School and Harvard Psychiatric Residency to become a Psychiatrist.

A few years ago, I had made a decision that I was willing to share my personal story of depression and recovery at a public level. My goal in doing so was to let people know that there is hope for people with mental illness and that they can recover. I had already begun to do this by telling my story and had participated in seminars, workshops and even sought out public speaking trainings.

I received an invitation to attend the Unitarian Church to listen to a presentation about the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) in May of 2007. I was invited to speak for just a minute or two about my work as a psychiatrist at a Wellness Center, as well as to share some of my personal history if I wanted to.

I attended the church service and enjoyed the main presentation about the Mental Health Services Act. I was then asked if I wanted to say a few words to the congregation about my experience. I gladly shared about my work as a psychiatrist at the Wellness Center and my experience with mental illness. When I finished, a woman came up to me and introduced herself as "Bobbie Williams." She said that I represent a great example of "recovery" and she wanted to know if I would be willing to tell my story to the director of the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (DMH) and his Advisory Board at one of their meetings. She let me know I should feel free to refuse. I was delighted she asked and accepted her offer.

On the day of the presentation, everything went smoothly. Bobbie introduced me to the advisory board. The director and the other advisory board members were engaged and interested and asked important questions that I did my best to answer. Afterwards, the training director let me know he would like me to do some trainings for DMH staff.

It was at this point that Bobbie Williams and I decided to work with other consumers, community members and professionals to get the message of recovery out and to work on eliminating stigma against mental illness. We gave presentations at churches, client run programs, social service agencies, university classrooms and other community organizations. Others in recovery began to join us as our number of speakers grew in size and diversity.

The enthusiasm from the audiences and the desire of those in recovery to spread the word thru their own personal presentations fueled the idea that was formed between Bobbie and I to begin a non-profit to serve the mental health community. We received our non-profit status on July 27th 2009 and Recovery In Action International became a reality.

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