What is Recovery? Presented by: On: At:

Aims of this Session Understand different views on Recovery Inside and Outside factors in Recovery Think about individual Recovery Barriers to Recovery and ways to overcome them What Recovery means to me and tools to help me in Recovery

Patricia Deegan, PhD I was 18 years old. I asked the psychiatrist I was working with, What’s wrong with me? He said, You have a disease called chronic schizophrenia. It is a disease that is like diabetes. If you take medications for the rest of your life and avoid stress, then maybe you can cope. And as he spoke these words I could feel the weight of them crushing my already fragile hopes and dreams and aspirations for my life. Even some 22 years later, those words still echo like a haunting memory that does not fade. The philosopher Martin Heidegger said that to be human means to be a question in search of an answer. Those of us who have been labelled with mental illness are not de facto excused from this most fundamental task of becoming human. In fact, because many of us have experienced our lives and dreams shattering in the wake of mental illness, one of the most essential challenges that faces us is to ask, who can I become and why should I say yes to life?

Two Definitions of Recovery Symptom remission; full- or part-time involvement in work or school; independent living without supervision by family or surrogate caregivers; not fully dependent on financial support from disability insurance; and having friends with whom activities are shared on a regular basis. sustained for a period of 2 years. (Liberman et al, 2002) A deeply personal, unique process of changing one’s attitudes, values, feelings, goals, skills and roles. It is a way of living a satisfying, hopeful and contributing life even with limitations caused by the illness. Recovery involves the development of new meaning and purpose in one’s life as one grows beyond the catastrophic effects of mental illness. (Anthony 1993)

‘Inside’ and ‘Outside’ “Recovery refers to both internal conditions experienced by persons who describe themselves as being in recovery—hope, healing, empowerment and connection—and external conditions that facilitate recovery—implementation of human rights, a positive culture of healing, and recovery-oriented services.” (Jacobson and Greenley, 2001, p. 482).

Inside + Outside = Life

Inside and Outside Recovery -Less symptoms- -understanding- -getting insight- -trust- -Transformation- -maturing as an individual- -Emotional response- -Empowerment- -Hope- -No self-stigma- -Freedom- -Confidence- -Identity- -Family support -Back to work- -Not harming self- -speaking to somebody- -services promoting recovery- -reading my file- -Making choices about Medication- -kindness- -giving something back- -WRAP- -Better environment- Recovery

The C.H.I.M.E.

https://recoverycontextinventory https://recoverycontextinventory.com/helpful-recovery-resources/personal-narratives/

Barriers to Recovery (Mental Health Commission 2007) Dominance of Medical Model Public Opinion/Stigma Resistance from Service Providers Lack of Multidisciplinary Teams Lack of Understanding of Recovery Model Lack of Evidence-based Research for Recovery Model

Scenario: Barriers and Solutions in the Day Hospital Psychiatrist doesn’t listen to me Psychiatrist Changes every 6 months Waiting for Psychology or Counselling Prepare in Advance Use a friend or family as ‘sounding board’ Ask someone to come in with you Find out when Psych is leaving Make list of hopes/plans and record in notes Lo-cost counselling Peer Groups, GROW, AWARE, PIETA Samaritans 24/7

Mid West Region Definition of Recovery ‘Recovery is an ongoing process and is not an end goal. It describes a person’s journey towards independence, and embodies a belief that one has purpose and value with or without the symptoms of mental ill health. It is made possible by the support and guidance of others but ultimately it is about making educated choices as an individual about how best to manage one’s own well being and health’.

My Personal Recovery Recovery to me means: My Recovery Goal is.... e.g. “Hopefulness” e.g.

Thank you!

References Anthony WA (1993) Recovery from mental illness: the guiding vision of the mental health service system in the 1990s, Psychosocial Rehabilitation Journal, 16, 11-23. Deegan, P. (1996) Recovery as a Journey of the Heart. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, 19(3), 91-97. Jacobson N, Greenley D (2001) What is recovery? A conceptual model and explication. Psychiatric Services, 52(4), 482-5. Leamy M, Bird V, Le Boutillier C, Williams J, Slade M (2011) A conceptual framework for personal recovery in mental health: systematic review and narrative synthesis, British Journal of Psychiatry, 199, 445-452. Liberman RP., Kopelowicz A ., Ventura, J. & Gutkind, D. (2002) Operational criteria and factors related to recovery from schizophrenia, International Review of Psychiatry 2002, 14, 256–272 https://recoverycontextinventory.com/helpful-recovery-resources/personal-narratives/ [Retrieved on 8/7/16] https://recoverycontextinventory.com/what-is-mental-health-recovery/context-and-the-recovery-process/ [Retrieved on 7/7/16] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhK-7DkWaKE [Retrieved on 11/7/16] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syjEN3peCJw [Retrieved on 11/7/16] McMahon, J., Wallace, N., Kelly, J., Egan, E. (2014) Recovery Education College: A Needs Analysis, University of Limerick/HSE (in press). Mental Health Commission (2007) A Vision For a Recovery Model in Irish Mental Health Services: A Qualitative Analysis of Submissions to the Mental Health Commission.