Chacku Mathai

Chacku Mathai is an Indian-American, born in Kuwait, who became involved in consumer/survivor/ ex-patient advocacy and peer support when he was 15 years old. Chacku’s personal experiences with trauma, suicide, and disabling mental health and substance use challenges, including being diagnosed with psychotic disorders, launched Chacku and his family towards a number of efforts to advocate for improved services, social conditions, and alternative supports in the community. He has since accumulated over thirty years of experience in a wide variety of roles including international, national, statewide, and local board governance and executive leadership roles.

Chacku is the owner of Chacku Mathai Consulting and currently serves as a board member of NARPA, the National Association for Rights Protection and Advocacy. He is a co-founder of Healing through Hip Hop, a founding board member and current President of Friends of Recovery – New York, a National Advisory Council Member for the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health in Texas, and he serves on the Advisory and Leadership Group for the National Center on Advancing Person-Centered Practices and Systems.