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MENTAL HEALTH RECOVERY PROCESS

POWER & CONTROL
 

DEPENDENT/
UNAWARE

DEPENDENT/
AWARE

INDEPENDENT/
AWARE

INTERDEPENDENT/
AWARE

CONSUMER’S STATUS

 Unaware of effect illness has on decision making;

Lacks identity;

Does not recognize responsibility for actions or their consequences;

May resist assistance and may be angry;

Does not realize input is important to facilitating recovery;

May have difficulty taking control of his/her life;

May be totally dependent upon clinician;

May not take medication.

Depends upon others and feels powerless & victimized;

Lacks identity;

Sense of self is determined by others;

Understands the need for assistance;

Begins to see the relationship between decisions and quality of life;

Sees choices but may feel powerless about making choices.

Has sense of self;

Has personal identity;

Defines own goals;

Aware of consequences of decisions;

Aware of personal responsibility;

Takes risks;

Seeks to be in control;

May resist others’ decision making;

Understands the need for assistance;

Begins to see the relationship between decisions & quality of life;

May experience stressful interactions with family/significant others.

 Aware of how he/she affects the others' lives;

Recognizes his/her relationship with others;

Community-minded;

Asks for help while still having sense of self;

Recognizes value & nature of goal attainment;

Makes decisions, based upon information, awareness and consequences.

CLINICIANS’ ROLES

 Educates consumer, family members/ significant others about illness, diagnosis and treatment;

Considers stigma associated with mental illness when educating and treating consumer;

Addresses stigma issues with consumer, family and significant others;

Assesses and promotes consumer’s ability to understand illness, community living skills and educational level;

Recognizes recovery struggle & communicates that understanding to consumer;

Validates consumer’s feelings;

Aware of power issues;

Encourages independence and continued personal & social activity;

Encourages medication compliance as a means to facilitate recovery.

 Identifies consumer’s hopes, dreams, aspirations & values;

Teaches coping, problem-solving & decision making skills;

Teaches consumer about gaining resources;

Helps consumer build self-esteem;

Provides environment for consumer to set goals;

Teaches & reinforces independent living skills & alternatives;

Identifies consumer’s perspective on his/her "loss" of power & control;

Presents alternatives and allows consumer to make choices.

Exchanges and/or shares knowledge with consumer;

Shares power & decision making with consumer;

Assists consumer in achieving his/her goals;

Enhances consumer’s life skills;

Educates consumer about resource sources (e.g., library);

Encourages consumer to find other resource persons;

Encourages participation in social groups;

Enhances consumer’s social skills, including reading social cues;

Educates consumer on "how to take control;"

Accepts consumer’s mistakes;

Exhibits patience;

Encourages consumer to participate in social, cultural & spiritual groups/ organizations.

 Assists consumer in solidifying his/her role within community;

Encourages self- advocacy;

Fosters the development & refinement of interaction & interpersonal skills;

Supports & educates consumer regarding his/her exploration of personal intimacy, cultural and spiritual needs;

Includes consumer in program planning & evaluation;

Supports involvement of consumer in system change activities;

Involves consumer in implementation of Recovery Management Plan.

COMMUNITY SUPPORTS’ ROLES

 Provides housing, food, transportation support;

Makes case management and community support programs & educational opportunities available;

Provides consultation for family members;

Manages guardianship issues;

Family and consumer, and organizations provide support.

Provides environment within business and housing settings that allow the consumer to practice newly-found skills and encourage self reliance;

Establishes self-help groups.

Encourages independence;

Provides educational opportunities focused on recovery & stigma-busting strategies.

Recognizes individuals with mental illness can lead productive & independent lives;

Supports individuals with mental illness in maintaining productive independent lives.

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MENTAL HEALTH RECOVERY PROCESS BEST PRACTICES

POWER & CONTROL
 

DEPENDENT/
UNAWARE

DEPENDENT/
AWARE

INDEPENDENT/
AWARE

INTERDEPENDENT/
AWARE

CONSUMER’S
BEST PRACTICES

 Open to learning and increasing awareness about illness;

Listens and begins developing trusting relationships;

Aware of lack of power and control;

Recognizes benefits of medication, if needed and is compliant.

Seeks education opportunities that provide information about mental illness, self esteem, sense of self and building self confidence;

Maintains medication, if necessary;

Self-evaluates decisions;

Makes choices based upon self-evaluation;

Seeks assistance when necessary.

 Seeks personal relationships & support for them;

Maintains medication;

Engages in forums for educating & dispelling stigma for purposes of gaining more power;

Aware of accomplishments;

Celebrates success & learns from mistakes.

Volunteers to help other consumers gain awareness & take risks to eliminate stigma;

Maintains medication;

Maintains personal & professional relationships;

Accepts responsibility for own wellness;

Makes decisions based upon awareness and understanding of consequences.

CLINICIANS’
BEST PRACTICES

 Identifies persons who have been successful in recovery from their mental illness to serve as role models;

Uses interventions that address consumer’s needs from a recovery perspective;

Identifies available community supports;

Involves consumer in groups;

Educates recovery & support teams about valuing consumer’s feelings;

Uses speakers for purpose of discussing issues related to housing, budgeting and grooming;

Values consumer’s feelings;

Leads recovery team in promoting self reliant model;

Identifies non-medical symptoms (e.g., mood) that impact consumer’s recovery.

 Identifies with consumer survival techniques;

Provides consumer with Peer Support to assist with realization of "hope;"

Provides educational opportunities that focus on teaching problem solving, decision making and coping skills;

Takes trips with consumer to the community to identify resources;

Develops partnership with consumer that focuses on developing decision making strategies and evaluating consequences & benefits;

Develops with consumer his/her Relapse Prevention Plan and Advance Directives;

Celebrates with consumer when goals are achieved (e.g., dinner certificates).

 Supports consumer when needed;

Empowers consumer to be independent & healthy;

Involves consumer in groups for purposes of setting goals & cultivating healthy relationships;

Develops with consumer stress management regime, advocacy skills;

Works with consumer on maintaining Recovery Management Plan, Relapse Prevention Plan & Advance Directives;

Uses other consumers as mentors for purpose of identifying strategies that result in successful living within the community.

Evaluates with consumer the effects of various intervention strategies;

Works in partnership with consumer to maintain recovery and supports consumer choices.

COMMUNITY SUPPORTS’
BEST PRACTICES

 Makes information about housing, food, transportation, etc., available within community (e.g., churches, hospitals, outreach programs);

Mental health agencies establish collaborative relationships with local criminal just system (i.e., policy, Bar Association);

Provides opportunities for consumer involvement;

Expects consumer to use self-reliant model.

Provides resource materials in waiting rooms at Mental Health Centers;

Mental health agencies conduct public relations activities within community & focuses on media;

Media includes mental health in health reporting.

Provides consumer with information about resources available within the community;

Provides educational opportunities that focus on interpersonal and social skills;

Expects consumer to be involved in community;

Rewards positive participation & celebrates successes.

Remains available to support consumer as needed.

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