2. an introduction by Richard Brabrook July 2006

3. Peer Support This information was taken from:This information was taken from: Publisher: Peach PressPublisher: Peach Press ISBN:0-9631366-7-4ISBN:0-9631366-7-4 Sherry Mary Ellen Mead Copeland Approx. £15.00

4. What is Peer Support? About having relationships with other people in new and different ways that promote:About having relationships with other people in new and different ways that promote: –Growth –Recovery –Wellness Using the principles of the WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Plan)

5. About the creators Created by Shery Mead & Mary Ellen CopelandCreated by Shery Mead & Mary Ellen Copeland Mary Ellen was awarded the John Beard award, in June 2006, for outstanding contributions to the field of psychosocial rehabilitation and because her contributions to the mental health field have led to decisive, lasting, and far-reaching advances.Mary Ellen was awarded the John Beard award, in June 2006, for outstanding contributions to the field of psychosocial rehabilitation and because her contributions to the mental health field have led to decisive, lasting, and far-reaching advances. Shery says that without “Peer Support”, she wouldn’t have moved beyond the “mental patient” role. She was diagnosed at 17 with Schizophrenia and it took years of lobbying the psychiatrists and government to look at Peer Support instead of just medicating and using therapyShery says that without “Peer Support”, she wouldn’t have moved beyond the “mental patient” role. She was diagnosed at 17 with Schizophrenia and it took years of lobbying the psychiatrists and government to look at Peer Support instead of just medicating and using therapy

6. Peer Support & WRAP Both created in the United States of AmericaBoth created in the United States of America Peer Support goes beyond the WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Plan)Peer Support goes beyond the WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Plan) –The WRAP was created in 1997 by Mary Ellen Copland and a group of people who used mental health systems –Peer Support followed when Shery Mead was made a Director of a new Peer Support Programme in New Hampshire, USA, to look at what it might look like and how.

7. Peer Support Instead of taking care of each other and think of each other as “Sick”, in Peer Support, we build a sense of family and community that is mutually responsible and focused on recovery and social action.Instead of taking care of each other and think of each other as “Sick”, in Peer Support, we build a sense of family and community that is mutually responsible and focused on recovery and social action. Peer Support is not like clinical support, it is more like being friends. It has structures to protect each person in the relationship.Peer Support is not like clinical support, it is more like being friends. It has structures to protect each person in the relationship.

8. Peer Support v Other Services Peer Support is Peer Support is not Being open to new ways of thinking about our own experience An Expert telling us what our experience means Re-defining help and helping Telling someone what to do A way of thinking about relationships and power that is mutual Superficial power-down relationships Considering the effects of trauma and abuse on people’s self-concept and relationships Telling you you’re sick and socially unacceptable Mutually supporting and mutually responsible One way relationships where one person takes responsibility for the other Teaching and learning from each other Being told or learning about diagnosis and treatment An opportunity to challenge the status quo Protecting people form taking risks that are “too stressful” About recovery and transformation About stability and maintenance

9. 15 Values and Ethics 1.Hope 2.Self determination, personal responsibility, empowerment and self-advocacy 3.Treating each other as equals with dignity, compassion, mutual respect and unconditional high regard 4.Unconditional acceptance of each person as they are 5.No-limits to Recovery 6.Choices and options, not final answers 7.Voluntary Participation 8.Personal Expertise

10. 15 Values and Ethics 9.Clinical, medical and diagnostic language is discouraged 10.Focus on working together to increase mutual understanding, knowledge and promote wellness 11.Adaptable to anyone’s personal philosophy 12.Emphasis on strategies that are simple and safe 13.Normalise responses 14.Focus on strengths and away from perceived deficits 15.The body of knowledge is always expanding and is infinite.

11. The relationship should include: Empathy and accountabilityEmpathy and accountability Having funHaving fun Valuing communityValuing community Taking care of yourselfTaking care of yourself Not using symptoms as an excuse for bad behaviourNot using symptoms as an excuse for bad behaviour Learning to work through conflictLearning to work through conflict Giving and receiving critical feedbackGiving and receiving critical feedback Mutual validationMutual validation ConfidentialityConfidentiality

12. How Peer Support Works Working in a relationship with someoneWorking in a relationship with someone AgreementAgreement Take turnsTake turns ListenListen EmpathyEmpathy SupportSupport HonestHonest ReliableReliable

13. Outcomes of using Peer Support Can include:Can include: –Improved quality of life –Higher levels of wellness, opportunity and possibility –Increased use of natural supports –Personal responsibility and empowerment –Increased understanding of difficult feelings and behaviours –Decrease in the impact of traumatic life events and stigma Decrease in the need for costly therapies and health services –Shift in focus from mental health care symptom controlled to prevention and recovery –Significant reduction in costs for mental health and emergency services –An increased ability to meet life and vocational goals

14. Recommendations If you think Peer Support will work for you, we would recommend that you attend some training sessions to enable you to either gain and / or practice the skills to make this process work for you and the person you will be working with.If you think Peer Support will work for you, we would recommend that you attend some training sessions to enable you to either gain and / or practice the skills to make this process work for you and the person you will be working with. Enter with an open mindEnter with an open mind Expect to face challenges / goals and do so with optimismExpect to face challenges / goals and do so with optimism

15. Training Programme I would recommend any training to include:I would recommend any training to include: –Review of the Wellness Recovery Action Plan –Empathy Skills –Listening Skills –Giving and Receiving Feedback –How to Support Someone –Confidentiality –Creating a Working Relationship

16. Further Information: www.recoverydevon.co.ukwww.recoverydevon.co.ukwww.recoverydevon.co.uk www.mentalhealthrecovery.comwww.mentalhealthrecovery.comwww.mentalhealthrecovery.com www.mentalhealthpeers.comwww.mentalhealthpeers.comwww.mentalhealthpeers.com MIND in Exeter and East DevonMIND in Exeter and East Devon 32 – 34 High Street, Honiton, EX14 1PU T: 01404 42548 F: 01404 42243 E: training@mindeastdevon.org.uk training@mindeastdevon.org.uk

17. Thank you for listening Any questions? Publisher: Peach Press ISBN:0-9631366-7-4 Approx. £15.00 Contact and further information: www.recoverydevon.co.ukwww.recoverydevon.co.ukwww.recoverydevon.co.uk www.mentalhealthrecovery.comwww.mentalhealthrecovery.comwww.mentalhealthrecovery.com www.mentalhealthpeers.comwww.mentalhealthpeers.comwww.mentalhealthpeers.com MIND in Exeter and East DevonMIND in Exeter and East Devon 32 – 34 High Street, Honiton, EX14 1PU 32 – 34 High Street, Honiton, EX14 1PU T: 01404 42548 F: 01404 42243 T: 01404 42548 F: 01404 42243 E: training@mindeastdevon.org.uk E: training@mindeastdevon.org.uktraining@mindeastdevon.org.uk Summary: