Welcome from the CEO

Welcome to the Mental Health Empowerment Project, Inc. (MHEP)! I’m truly glad you’re here and taking the time to learn about our community.

MHEP is a peer-run, nonprofit organization that has been serving communities since 1988. We were founded by people with lived experience in the mental health system who came together with a shared belief: that people deserve the opportunity, support, and respect needed to define their own lives and futures. From the very beginning, our work has been rooted in mutual support, self-determination, and the understanding that recovery looks different for everyone.

Our own lived experiences have shown us the transformative power of connection. Through peer support and self-directed recovery, people can move from isolation and discouragement toward hope, purpose, and meaningful community involvement. At MHEP, we focus on practical, person-centered tools that support physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being, while also helping individuals build valued life experiences through community participation, contribution, and self-advocacy. Most importantly, we strive to create spaces where people can discover their own voice and recognize their personal strengths.

As a multi-service agency, MHEP is proud to offer statewide skill-building workshops for people who use mental health services, technical assistance to peer- and consumer-operated organizations across New York State, community inclusion initiatives, peer support workforce development, and direct peer support services in Albany, Rensselaer, and Westchester Counties.

As peers and allies with lived experience, our staff is deeply committed to mentoring, supporting one another, and giving back to our communities. I invite you to join us in our mission to promote empowerment, connection, and hope, and to help make a positive and lasting difference in the lives of our peers.

Warmly,

Amy Colesante
Chief Executive Officer
Mental Health Empowerment Project, Inc.