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Development of Illness Management and “Self-Directed” Recovery
In the early process of implementation consumers voiced a concern about the standard wording of “Illness Management and Recovery” used in the EBP project. The Office of Consumer Affairs and Adult Mental Health Division advocated that the name be modified to better reflect the consumer guided philosophy of this EBP. The overall consensus was that the official name should be altered to Illness Management and “Self-Directed” Recovery. Embodying the commitment to the individualized nature of the recovery process, the name change has been adopted and embraced by the EBP project.
What is Illness Management and Self Directed Recovery (IM&SDR)?
The program is a series of weekly sessions with a specially trained mental health practitioner. You will learn how to develop your own personal strategies for coping with mental illness and moving forward in your life. The sessions are in an individual or group format and last between 3 to 6 months.
There are specific goals of the IM&SDR program. The first goal is that consumers learn about mental illness and strategies for treatment. Second, the goal is to see a reduction in symptoms, relapses and rehospitalizations. Last, making progress towards your goals and toward recovery are important outcomes of the program.
During IM&SDR, you will receive educational handouts, planning sheets and checklists. A practitioner will help you to apply the contents of the handouts to develop your own strategies for managing mental illness and setting and achieving goals. You will have opportunities to practice your personalized strategies in the sessions and in your everyday life.
What will be learned:
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1)
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Recovery strategies
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2)
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Facts about mental illness
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3)
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The stress-vulnerability model and treatment strategies
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4)
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Building social support
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5)
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Reducing relapses
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6)
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Using medication effectively
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7)
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Coping with stress
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8)
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Coping with problems and symptoms
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9)
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Getting your needs met in the mental health system
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Info for Family Members:
You can help your loved one by reading the educational handouts that are used in the program and reviewing the handouts with the consumer. Also, attending some of the sessions with the practitioner may be helpful. Last, you can help your loved one by helping develop and implement plans for coping with symptoms, reducing relapses and pursuing recovery goals. |
