I focus on doing what I can to help mental health peers empower themselves. That’s what I’m passionate about and this is my advocacy. So, when someone scolds me for not considering all disadvantaged populations and it’s not all about my peers and I should broaden my humanity, I counter:

It’s morally presumptuous for me to advocate for disadvantaged populations that are entirely foreign to my life experience. I’m exceptionally confident there are other more qualified advocates to champion their causes.

And like it or not, all of our “special interest groups” are competing for the same limited resources to further our advocacy. In a perfect world there’d be enough for everyone. The world is imperfect and I need to be more convincing in supporting my goals. It’s inevitable competition.

I’ll stick to mental health peers and their issues, concerns, and needs. That makes sense.