1. Recovery & Mental Health
Kirsty Samson
Level 6 Social Work Student

2. Introduction/Aims Raise awareness of Mental Health Recovery
Clinical or personal recovery
What does recovery mean
Are the tools effective

3. What is Health
The World Health Organisation describe health as  "A state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease“ WHO 1948

4. What is Mental Health…
…”Mental health is defined as a state of well-being in which every individual realises his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community”… (WHO, 2014)

5. Mental Health Conditions
Anxiety
Stress
Depression
Bi-Polar
Schizophrenia
Borderline Personality Disorder
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Many others….

6. Clinical recovery What does it mean…
Clinical recovery as the term implies means the absence of symptoms either due to them being eradicated by treatment and the person being cured, or the absence of symptoms because the treatment is suppressing or controlling them.
It does not matter which of these definitions you use as much as the theory that underpins them. The essential of clinical recovery is that the recovery process occurs because of the effectiveness of the clinical treatment. (Coleman, 2014)

7. What is personal recovery
“Recovery is being able to live a meaningful and satisfying life, as defined by each person, in the presence or absence of symptoms. It is about having control over and input into your own life. Each individual’s recovery, like his or her experience of the mental health problems or illness, is a unique and deeply personal process.”
Recovery in mental health is different from, although related to clinical recovery. Recovery is unique to every individuals and is defined by them. It includes reduction in stress, improved mental and physical health and wellbeing, improvement in functioning. Can also mean improved relationships, returning to education or gaining employment. Recovery covers both one off episodes and longer term difficulties. There is no single instrument to measure it as it means so many different things to different people… (RCPSYCH, 2009)

8. The Recovery Model
The recovery model aims to help people with mental health problems to look beyond mere survival and existence. It encourages them to move forward, set new goals and do things and develop relationships that give their lives meaning. (Mental Health Foundation, n.d)

9. What tools can help aid recovery
The Recovery Star
The Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP)

10. Recovery Star
The recovery star is a tool which can measure individual progress towards recovery as defined by the user. Service users can set their own goals within each domains and measure over time progress which they are making towards meeting these goals. This can help them to identify their own goals and consider what support they need to reach them. Can be a subjective tool and a criticism of the tool is that scoring can depend very much on how someone is feeling on a specific day. That said, research undertaken by Mind felt that most service users who undertook a recovery star at the start of engagement with services moved up the star an average of three points at the end of engagement with services after targeted 1-1 work.

11. Domains of the Recovery Star
Management of Mental Health
Physical health and self care
Work
Living Skills
Social Networks
Responsibilities
Trust and Hope
Identity and self-esteem
Addictive Behaviour
Relationships
The recovery star was introduced by Triangle in partnership with the Mental Health Providers Forum. It considers 10 areas of a persons life including management of mental health, physical health and self care, living skills, social networks, work, relationships, addictive behaviour. Responsibilities, identity and self esteem and trust and hope (Triangle, 2012).
The recovery star can be subjective. It is produced my a service user and therefore due to the fluctuations of a mental health condition i.e. bi-polar – the extremes of this condition can lead to a range of self evaluation. A fear of being discharged from services can potentially lead to a service user playing down recovery, additionally a fear of displeasing the wellbeing worker (or wanting to please them) can lead to an inaccurate score. As with other tools this is just a snapshot in time….

12. Wellness Recovery Action Plan
The Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) was introduced by Mary Ellen Copeland, who describes it as …”a self-designed plan for staying well and for helping a service user to feel better, to increase personal responsibility, and to improve their quality of life”… (Copeland, 2014).

13. Principles of a WRAP 5 Principles of WRAP Hope Education
Personal Responsibility
Support
Self-Advocacy
There are a number of sections in a within a WRAP
A daily maintenance plan with three parts: what am I like when I am well, wellness toolbox and daily living planner
Triggers – what can cause MH distress
Early warning signs and an action plan
When things are breaking down and an action plan
Crisis plan – who needs to take responsibility health care, even pet care, housework, cooking etc. – helps to maintain control
Post crisis plan – recovering and staying well…
The tool itself empowers clients to take charge of their own recovery – and action plan ways to maintain wellness – as with other treatments a client needs to be in a good place and recovered in order to successfully complete the WRAP –some of the areas are emotive and can take a client back to a dark place which they'd rather leave behind – an example of this is crisis planning. A service user who feels unwell may find the wrap itself a trigger to their mental health condition.

14. The Recovery Journey Acceptance Identity Self Management Peer Support
Talking Treatments
Spirituality
Recovery (Mental Health Foundation2014)
Tools for recovery
1.Acceptance
Denial of the problems or of parts of oneself can be damaging, so acceptance needs to come first on a road to recovery.
2. Identity
Too often people with a diagnosis feel boxed in or labelled by either the diagnosis or by what others opinions. The ability to re-define and re-name the problems in their own language can often help to reclaiming their identity.
3. Self-management
There are many different strategies and techniques that people find helpful; that it is unlikely that one technique will fit all. A person would be encouraged to find out what works for them.
4. Peer support
Finding support from others who have similar experiences or diagnoses can be very valuable. Support or self-help groups can be invaluable
5.Talking treatments
Many people have found it helpful to have a professional to talk to about their mental distress. Forms of talking include counselling, psychotherapy or cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).
6. Spirituality
By Considering and valuing spiritual needs either through religion, meditation or creativity can help an individual to gain self awareness and peace of mind. Mindfulness is an example of this – and Yoga, Relaxation etc. further examples
7. Recovery
Wherever a person in on their recovery journey ‘in recovery’ or recovered, maintaining the techniques of self-management which work are essential. Self awareness of thoughts and feelings can help people to anticipate and tackle potential problems. Good mental health can never be taken for granted.

15. Activities to aid wellbeing
Connect
Get active
Keep learning
Give to others
Take notice (NHS, 2014)
Connect. Connect other people: family, friends, colleagues and neighbours. Spend time developing these relationships.
Be active. walking, cycling or playing a game of football. Its about finding an enjoyable activity
Keep learning. Learning new skills offer a sense of achievement and a new confidence. This could include cooking course, start learning to play a musical instrument, or even bike maintenance
Give to others. Even the smallest act can count, whether it's a smile, a thank you or a kind word. Larger acts, such as volunteering can improve mental wellbeing and help build new social networks..
Take notice. Being more aware of the present moment, thinking about feelings and thoughts, ones body and the world around a person. “mindfulness”, can positively change the way someone feels about life and how they approach challenges.

16. In conclusion – to revisit the aims..
Raise awareness of Mental Health Recovery
Clinical or personal recovery
Consider what recovery means
Critique the tools

17. Who can help Mind Website http://www.farehamandgosportmind.org.uk/
Rethink
The Mental Health Foundation Website
Time to Change

18. Any Questions

19. References
Coleman, R. (2014). What is recovery. Retrieved from to recovery:
Copeland, M. (2014). Wellness Recovery Action Plan. Retrieved from
Mental Health Foundation. (n.d). Recovery. Retrieved from information/mental-health-a-z/r/recovery/
NHS. (2014). Mental Wellbeing. Retrieved from benefits-of-exercise.aspx
RCPSYCH. (2009). Enabling recovery for people with complex mental health needs. Retrieved from
Triangle. (2012). Mental Health Recovery Star. Retrieved from
WHO. (1948). Health. Retrieved from
WHO. (2014). Mental Health. Retrieved from