Collaboration

There cannot be a simple blueprint or business plan for community development similar to those which are created for starting a commercial enterprise. The development and operation of a legitimate community channel requires extensive and ongoing dialogue, collaboration and participation by community members. It is essential to formulate a comprehensive Mentalympians strategy which will provide genuine opportunities for community members to engage in, contribute to and discuss its development and operation. As acknowledged by Emeritus Professor Jim Ife and Dr Frank Tesoriero in 'Community Development: Community-based Alternatives in an Age of Globalisation' (2006): "The imposition of specific answers, structures or processes from outside the community seldom works." The authors also emphasize that participation equates to empowerment and that "...broad participation [is] vital to a community development program." Accordingly, Mentalympians will be developed from within the community it is intended to serve.

Given the significant number of people who are members of the mental health community, and the importance of participation in the community development process, it is essential to network and collaborate with established consumer organizations. Not only do these organizations have members, but they also have established structures to facilitate constructive discussion and debate with interested community members. Consequently, it is a top priority to inform existing consumer groups about this community development initiative and encourage both their direct involvement and partnership in all aspects of the project.

The scope of this project dictates that it will require considerable resources. Based upon the benefits that it promises to provide, Mentalympians will undoubtedly attract participation by numerous parties in addition to mental health consumer groups, such as government and non-government organizations in the sector. Once an alliance of consumer groups is established that is committed to progressing Mentalympians, it will be appropriate to formally contact outside parties to request various forms of support. It is proposed that such parties which support the community channel be described as 'Friends of Mentalympians', a term inspired from knowledge of Friends of Canadian Broadcasting.