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MENTAL HEALTH RECOVERY PROCESS

PEER SUPPORT & RELATIONSHIPS

 

DEPENDENT/
UNAWARE

DEPENDENT/
AWARE

INDEPENDENT/
AWARE

INTERDEPENDENT/
AWARE

CONSUMER’S STATUS

May have lost contact with peers;

Lacks self-esteem and sense of self;

May have limited knowledge of supportive resources and medical management;

May experience spiritual and/or cultural conflict;

Views self as object;

May feel hopeless and helpless;

May be withdrawn and avoids contact with others.

Defines his/her unique needs;

Regains sense of hope & becomes aware of self esteem issues;

Understands importance of maintaining balance & wellness in life;

Views self as "subject";

Begins using self-reliant model;

Develops life skills;

Participates in self-help/ peer support groups;

New supports accept individual’s differences;

Begins learning to develop relationships on his/her own;

Becomes aware of his/ her relationships in community;

Becomes aware of need to monitor systems;

Peer group has changed.

Gives support to others;

Uses peer support as component of personal support network;

Obtains and uses resources, supports and services;

Begins to use Relapse Prevention Plan;

Recognizes and develops plans to monitor symptoms;

Begins to value self as a unique individual with strengths and achievable goals.

Cultivates reciprocal relationships;

Participates in community;

Willing and ready to give back to community;

Serves as role model for other consumers;

Advocates for self and others;

Manages stress;

Shares coping techniques with other consumers & clinicians;

Recognizes and feels own value as a whole person and contributing member of society.

CLINICIANS’ ROLES

Makes consumer aware he/she is not alone;

Offers hope & friendship;

Encourages consumer to remain active;

Identifies support and provides access to peer support;

Helps consumer develop reciprocal relationships;

Assists consumer in recognizing strengths and valuing peer support experiences;

Fosters advocacy and assists consumer in taking control of his/her illness;

Provides consumer with information about how to obtain access to services;

Encourages the development and/or maintenance of social, family and personal relationships;

Encourages consumer to maintain or seek supportive spiritual/cultural activities.

Establishes relationship with consumer that is reciprocal;

Assists consumer with identifying needs and linking to peers;

Facilitates group/peer interactions;

Assists consumer in understanding & managing relationship issues;

Provides access to personal advocacy;

Offers opportunities to consumer to venture into community.

Utilizes volunteers to share recovery information & experiences;

Involves consumer in groups with Peer Supporters that participate regularly in some type of recreational/social activity;

Teaches consumer about Mental Health Directives & process involved;

Evaluates effectiveness of support provided y peers;

Reviews with consumer his/her Relapse Prevention Plan;

Monitors consumer’s ability to maintain Relapse Prevention Plan;

Supports consumer in community activities.

Recognizes individual versus consumer;

Helps consumer identify ways to give back to community;

Provides consumer with access to group advocacy training;

Encourages consumer participation in program evaluation & quality assurance activities;

Collaborates with consumer in developing, finding, and using self-help alternatives;

Collaborates with consumer to conduct research & publish about the benefits of peer support;

Expands peer group to include clinicians & providers.

COMMUNITY SUPPORTS’ ROLES

Makes peer support groups available and accessible;

Involves peer support groups in treatment sessions when appropriate;

Provides personal assistance;

Offers hope through peer supporters making non-threatening visits;

Peer Support Group participates in community activities (i.e., food drives, community clean up).

Provides educational opportunities to consumer that focus on available programs & services;

Makes accessible & available Drop-in Centers and consumer peer support groups.

Recruits individuals interested in becoming Peer Supporters;

Involves consumer in social and recreational activities;

Conducts meetings of Peer Supporters.

Involves consumer on mental health boards;

Makes community support groups accessible and available.

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MENTAL HEALTH RECOVERY PROCESS EMERGING BEST PRACTICES

PEER SUPPORT & RELATIONSHIPS

 

DEPENDENT/
UNAWARE

DEPENDENT/
AWARE

INDEPENDENT/
AWARE

INTERDEPENDENT/
AWARE

CONSUMER’S
BEST PRACTICES

Becomes willing to engage in interactions with others;

Listens to information given on mental illness & healthy support systems;

Develops or maintains spiritual, social and cultural connections;

Begins to see the possibilities.

Identifies self esteem issues, short-term goals & strategies to overcome fear of self-disclosure;

Becomes interested in returning to community & identifying services/resources available within the community;

Accepts mental illness;

Learns about personal symptoms of illness;

Begins to build Relapse Prevention Plan;

Develops meaningful, supportive personal relationships.

Gives support to others;

Obtains & uses resources, supports and services;

Uses self determined Relapse Prevention Plan;

Uses self developed plans to monitor symptoms;

Active in Peer Support Group;

Peer Support is a valued component of personal support network;

Values self.

Participates in advocacy activities;

Follows his/her Relapse Prevention Plan;

Takes responsibility for own wellness;

Maintains purpose in daily routine through participation in meaningful activities (e.g. , paid work, therapeutic groups peer support groups, and volunteer work) and gives back to community;

Values self and peers.

CLINICIANS’
BEST PRACTICES

Involves consumer in groups (e.g., Peer Support, Self Esteem) designed to stimulate appropriate interpersonal interaction; facilitates an open dialogue about stabilizing & maintaining relationships and intimacy; provide/promote opportunities to practice using social skills; share information about systems & medical management; promote awareness of transitioning into community;

Involves consumer in 1:1 sessions for purpose of maintaining rapport and encouraging interactions with others;

Refers to peer support & other interest groups (i.e., recreational).

Utilizes team tasks (e.g., recreational, psychosocial groups) to establish sense of teamwork;

Involves consumer in groups for purposes of discussing relationship issues; learning how to manage them; identifying personal hopes & achievements; learning about personal advocacy; and relapse prevention and & Advance Directives;

May involve family members/significant others;

Assures peer supporters accompany consumer on community trips to various support groups;

Assists consumer in understanding that peer relationships are fluid and must be nurtured.

Uses volunteers to share information & experiences of recovery;

Involves consumer in groups with Peer Supporters that participate regularly in some type of recreational/social activity;

Supports consumer’s choice to involve peers in process to refine their personal Recovery Management Plan, Relapse Prevention Plan and Advance Directives.

Is available to support and assist in refining consumer’s peer support choices.

COMMUNITY SUPPORTS’
BEST PRACTICES

Makes hospital visits & provides literature and information on peer support system;

Provides hope & reassurance for recovery to consumer using personal disclosure;

Develops rapport with consumer;

With clinician’s guidance, begins to engage consumer in non-threatening social tasks (i.e., getting cup of coffee, light conversations).

Provides resource information about community programs & services;

Accompanies consumer on community trips to explore support groups;

Continues to offer reassurance & hope in recovery process;

Encourages consumer to accept & gain increased insight into mental illness;

Accompanies consumer to substance abuse support groups in community when appropriate.

Conducts meetings at hospitals;

Recruits consumers interested in becoming peer supporters;

Involves consumer regularly in some type of social/recreational activity.

Involves consumer in peers support services;

Conduct’s workshops & in-services designed to increase consumer’s awareness about mental illness;

Provides social activities and retreats;

Involves consumer in planning community activities.

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