Support - Recovery Resources
SAMHSA The SAMHSA 10 x 10 Wellness Campaign was launched in 2010 to promote the importance of addressing all parts of a person's life in hopes of increasing life expectancy for persons with mental health problems by 10 years over the next 10 years. More than 2,000 organizations and individuals have already signed on to show their commitment to promoting wellness and reducing the disproportionate impact of preventable morbidity and mortality on people with mental health problems. Join them by signing the Pledge for Wellness today!. |
What is Recovery
(An exerpt from NAMI NH's publication, Hope and Help)
Recovery is the process of overcoming your illness and improving your sense of your own value, self-worth, the quality of your relationships, community connections and your overall satisfaction with the person you are. Some say it’s a lifelong process or journey while others say it’s an outcome or goal. Either way, recovery involves choosing, setting and achieving a series of intermediate goals that lead you in the direction you want your life to go.
Everyone has a different definition of recovery because everyone’s idea of a “better life” is different. Despite differing definitions, there are now enough recovery stories to let us make some meaningful generalizations about recovery. They are:
HOPE is a prerequisite to recovery. Getting better can only happen if you believe deep down that it’s possible and can hold onto that belief even when you suffer setbacks.
SETBACKS are part of recovery. Recovery is not a straight line. Change is always risky and some risks don’t work out well. The trick is to think of setbacks as learning experiences, not defeats.
SUPPORT is essential in mutual supportive relationships with people who are committed to helping you recover: family members, friends, health care professionals, or anyone else. It is a very good idea to look for supporters among people who are themselves in recovery from severe mental illness, who can truthfully say, “I’ve been there and I know how it feels.”
EDUCATION is vital. You must learn everything you can about your illness, the treatments and medicines you are receiving, and what alternatives are available.
SELF-ADVOCACY means knowing what you have a right to demand of other people, treatment professionals, and/or government services, and learning appropriate ways to assure that you have these rights met. It means knowing how to get what you need.
COLLABORATIVE TREATMENT is the only kind of mental health care that can support recovery. It requires professionals who listen and respect the wishes and needs of clients and clients who are educated and able to advocate for their needs.
What if a Person Has No Goals? Larry Davidson, PhD, and Priscilla Ridgway, MSW, PhD
MORE INFORMATION ON RECOVERY
Copeland Center for Wellness and Recovery
The Copeland Center promotes personal, organizational, and community wellness and empowerment through education, training, and research. http://copelandcenter.com
Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA)
DBSA offers Support Groups that can help you stick with your treatment plan and avoid hospitalization; provide a place for mutual acceptance, understanding and self-discovery; help you understand that a mood disorder does not define who you are; and give you the opportunity to benefit from the experiences of those who have “been there.” Each group has a professional advisor and appointed group leader. NH Support Groups - http://www.DBSAlliance.org
Emotions Anonymous
Emotions Anonymous is a twelve-step organization, similar to Alcoholics Anonymous. Our fellowship is composed of people who come together in weekly meetings for the purpose of working toward recovery from emotional difficulties. EA members are from many walks of life and are of diverse ages, economic status, social and educational backgrounds. The only requirement for membership is a desire to become well emotionally. http://www.emotionsanonymous.org
National Empowerment Center
The National Empowerment Center is a think tank responsible for some of the first and most important research and advocacy on recovery. It is staffed entirely by researchers who are themselves survivors of severe mental illness, who have gone on to earn advanced degrees and pursue the recovery vision. http://www.power2u.org
Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration
The Substance Abuse & Mental Health Administration is the federal agency responsible for all federally supported mental health programs. The website contains information on all their publications (many are free) and other resources. Click here to link to the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration. http://www.samhsa.gov