Mental Health Recovery Newsletter

Contents

News from Mary Ellen and Ed
including Upcoming Presentations

Recovery Topics:
Wellness Tool-Organizing or Reorganizing
WRAP: The Daily Maintenance List
A Reminder About WRAP

New Training Opportunity
Implementing Recovery and WRAP in your Mental Health System

Mental Health Recovery and WRAP Programs
The "Wellness Recovery Action PlanT (WRAP) Train-the-Trainer Program" in Western MA by Cheryl Stevens
WRAP in Contra Costa County, CA by Sharon Kuehn

Educational Opportunities
Correspondence Course Changes
Facilitator Training
Refresher Course for Facilitators

Resources
Worry Control Workbook
Booklets
Curriculum Upgrade
Self Help Group Sourcebook

Introduction

Welcome to Mental Health Recovery Newsletter, begun in March 2000 and published quarterly from the office of Mary Ellen Copeland. This newsletter is for anyone who wants to learn more about recovering from uncomfortable, often disabling psychiatric symptoms. If you do not have a subscription to this newsletter and would like one, please contact the office of Mary Ellen Copeland by e-mail or click here. Subscription is free by email or ground mail. Multiple copies are available: 50 copies for $25 plus mailing; 100 copies for $45 plus mailing. Please contact us and let us know whether we can send you the email version to save a tree. You may freely copy and distribute this newsletter, giving credit to Mary Ellen Copeland.

NEWS from Mary Ellen and Ed

Winter is definitely here in Vermont. On December 25, 16 inches of snow fell on top of the more than six inches of snow and ice that already blanketed the hills and valleys around our home. Our fall was busy with travel and teaching. We will be spending more time at home through these winter months, trying to keep warm and catching up on our fall work. Next month Ed will start working with other family members to make the years supply of maple syrup-it's a sweet time.

We are deeply committed to research that proves the effectiveness of mental health recovery values and strategies in general and Wellness Recovery Action Planning in particular. In my view, we don't even know what questions to ask to do this research. So that has be the first part of the project-talking to lots of people who have experienced the worst of symptoms to find out what has helped and what has not. Mental Health Recovery: What Helps and What Hinders? an on-going project of the National Technical Assistance Center for State Mental Health Planning is a giant step forward in answering these questions. To order a copy of the report of the first phase of this project, you can go to www.nasmhpd.org/ntac.

A piece of advocacy work that we all need to do. In these times when we are seeing lots of funding cutbacks, it is most important that we all keep a close watch on what is happening in mental health at the local, state and national level. I am hearing reports from areas where people who have experienced symptoms, and have successfully developed close working relationships with officials, are now being excluded from the decision making process. Important programs are being cut without our input. Low cost options developed by people who are not service users are replacing programs that we have developed, implemented, and that work well for us. Keep in close touch with everything that is going on and use all of your advocacy skills to minimize the destruction.

Recovery Topics

Wellness Tool-Organizing or Reorganizing

There are many things I do that I have not thought of as wellness tools. As I continue to do this work, I have developed a greater awareness of what some of these more obscure tools are. Recently I noticed I was feeling very uncomfortable in my workspace, a feeling that was triggered by disorganization. Basically, my workspace was a mess. I had piles of things here and there, I couldn't find anything, it was hard to get anything done and I felt like my work was out of control. I didn't enjoy being in the space at all. It was causing early warning signs like not wanting to work, lack of motivation and low self esteem.

The wellness tool I needed to use was to reorganize-in this case my workspace. I bought some inexpensive plastic bins that I set on shelves to sort papers, booklets, articles and other information that I want or need to use soon. I labeled the bins so I could tell what to put in each one. I spent an afternoon, sorting through all the piles and making places for things so that I could easily find them when I needed them. For instance, I made a bin for things that need to be taken care of right away. I made another bin for things that are long term projects. I made bins for information on certain topics. I also sorted through my files and discarded those that were
outdated to make more room for current issues. I rearranged my office materials and supplies for easy access. I moved some furniture to make the space more user friendly and easier to keep
neat. When I had finished this work, I made a commitment to myself that each day, before I leave my workspace, I will sort things into bins so nothing is piling up on my desk-and I put that in my WRAP for work on my Daily Maintenance Plan. So far it has been working like a charm.

Using this tool has helped me to think about other spaces in my home that might benefit from some organization-closets, drawers, book shelves. Every few days I use this tool and organize a small area. And when I do I notice I feel better. Each time I return to that space to be there or to use something it lifts my mood.

Another thing that has come to mind through this reorganization process, is that doing some minor redecorating might help. I have noticed that thrift stores often have curtains, drapes, other linens and even pieces of beautiful fabric available at a very low cost. So I will be keeping my eyes open for inexpensive redecorating things I can do to help myself feel better.

WRAP: The Daily Maintenance List

The most important part of my Wellness Recovery Action PlanT is the Daily Maintenance List-that list of things I need to do every day to keep myself as well as possible. My Daily Maintenance List is so important to me that I have it memorized, and have a copy of it hanging on my refrigerator door. My Daily Maintenance Plan has been the key to my wellness since I developed my first WRAP in 1997.

I occasionally revise my Daily Maintenance Plan as I become aware of a new wellness tool or physical or emotional issues come up that need daily attention. I also have been able to remove things from the list because they are now deeply ingrained habits now-like drinking eight glasses of water a day.

As with other parts of WRAP, what you put on your Daily Maintenance List is your choice. Others might want to tell you what to put on your list, but the final decisions are yours. Don't let anyone take over and try to control this for you as this doesn't help.

You can have one thing or many things on your Daily Maintenance List, depending on your need. For instance, you might start with a short list like smile at one person a day and make your bed. Then as you notice you are feeling better you could add things to your list like take a shower each day and spend some time talking to a person you like. Eventually your Daily Maintenance Plan might include things related to doing volunteer work, getting a job or being in a relationship.

Make sure your Daily Maintenance List is manageable. Avoid putting so many things on the list that you couldn't possibly do them and take care of your other responsibilities. My Daily Maintenance List includes eating 3 healthy meals a day (keeps me from skipping meals
or filling up on junk food), getting outdoor exercise for at least 45 minutes, meditating for at least 15 minutes, spending an hour doing something I really enjoy, taking my medications and food supplements, and checking in with my partner and at least one other supporter. This list is manageable for me. Most days I am successful at doing the things on the list. When something gets missed, I don't give myself a hard time about it. I remind myself that most days I am
successful and I will do my best tomorrow.

I have developed a separate Daily Maintenance Plan for those days when I work. I have found this to be very helpful. This list includes: Have good posture at my desk, check my appointment book,
catch up with e-mails, mail and phone messages, keep my desk clear and papers filed, take a 15 minute break mid morning and mid afternoon, take an hour break for lunch. You might benefit from such a list for yourself.

A Reminder About WRAP

There is only one person who can write your WRAP-YOU.

You, and only you, decide:

• If you want to write one,
• How much time it takes you to do it
• When you want to do it
• What you want and don't want in it
• Which parts you want to do
• Who you want, if anyone, to help you with it
• How you use it
• Who you show it to
• Where you keep it
• Who, if anyone, has copies of your crisis plan

For more information on WRAP, refer to the resources listed on this web site.

New Training Opportunity

Implementing Recovery and WRAP in your Mental Health System
February 10-14, 2003 Phoenix, AZ.

I have been leading basic Mental Health Recovery seminars for over ten years. In 1995 I began teaching others to teach what I teach-to become Recovery Educators or Facilitators of the Mental Health Recovery Curriculum. In 1997, Wellness Recovery Action Planning became an integral part of the Curriculum. To date I have trained approximately 600 people as Mental Health Recovery and WRAP facilitators. They have spread this information and philosophy to the far corners of the world.

I am now delighted to announce a new level of training-Integrating Mental Health Recovery and WRAP into your Agency or System. This seminar will be led by Lori Ashcraft, Executive Director of the META Services Recovery Education Center, and Gene Johnson, Chief Executive Officer of Meta Services. Ed Anthes and Mary Ellen Copeland will be there to assist.

Come to this training and learn effective WRAP formats and implementation strategies; how developing WRAP creates opportunity for more recovery-oriented programs; and how to create a resource of peer facilitators through training, coaching and support. During the training you will use the WRAP format to create the " blueprint" for your optimal service delivery system and plan the optimal recovery program for your agency with consultation from the Recovery Education Center faculty and your peers. In addition you will become part of a national support network that will provide continued consultation and support for your implementation during the year following the workshop.

The week will include designing an optimal Recovery program, presentations by people whose agencies who have made significant progress in Recovery integration, site visits, and personal
consultation on your program or agencies issues.

The following consultants will be on hand during the week to describe their exemplary work, to answer questions and to assist you in your planning: Erica Buffington from Minnesota, Jane Winterling from Vermont, Cheryl Stevens from Western Massachusetts and Sharon Kuehn
from California. For more information, contact Gene Johnson at (602) 636-4444 or gene@metaservices.com for registration information. The charge for this five day training will be $975.

The "Wellness Recovery Action PlanT (WRAP) Train-the-Trainer Program" in Western MA
by Cheryl Stevens

In 2001 the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health offered the " Wellness Recovery Action PlanT (WRAP) Train the Trainer Program" for the first time. Trainees included people in mental health recovery, parents, and mental healthworkers. They were paired with a buddy for mutual support and to help with the implementation of the workshops following completion of the 6 month Training. Buddies completed their own WRAP while training to lead WRAP workshops for others. They were celebrated in a graduation ceremony last September before returning to their sponsoring agencies to facilitate weekly WRAP workshops for clients and staff interested in enhancing their well-being.

In order to be eligible for the training, candidates selected a BUDDY and a SPONSORING AGENCY. A BUDDY was someone who also agreed to complete the six month training and co-facilitate WRAP workshops at the SPONSORING AGENCY for the following three months (nine month commitment total).

Based on the success of the 2001 training, we strongly recommended that people in the staff role partner with people in the client role to team-teach this curriculum to sponsoring agency staff and clients after graduation.

Phase I: The six-month training began with a Train-the-Trainer retreat weekend. Participants received their own WRAP: Wellness Recovery Action PlanT book by Mary Ellen Copeland, an expanded notebook of more handouts on topics related to WRAP, and various wellness technologies including body massage, Reiki, yoga and meditation. Each participant paid $30 to attend. Alternatively, anyone interested in the training but unable to attend the entire weekend participated in the one-day WRAP conference from 8:00 AM until 5:00 PM.

Phase II: BUDDY pairs meet weekly to finish their individual Wellness Recovery Action Planning from April through September, getting together with the larger group of WRAP Trainers for 12 biweekly sessions until graduation in September. Travel costs are reimbursed.

Phase III: After a formal graduation ceremony in September, BUDDY pairs of WRAP Trainers facilitate twelve (12) weekly WRAP workshops for their SPONSORING AGENCY, according to their pre-arranged agreement. Unless otherwise employed by a mental health agency, all eligible WRAP facilitators will earn a stipend of $10.00/hr for their teaching paid through the DMH Office of Wellness, Power & Freedom.

Retreat 2001 Detail: The retreat deserves special mention, as it was a remarkable time for all that participated - trainees, facilitators and volunteers. Besides classroom instruction in the WRAP, attendees had the chance to experience massage, Reiki, Polarity or other body work; a movie (Patch Adams); nightly yoga, meditation, and 12 step meetings; and delicious, wholesome food in a beautiful natural setting. Of special note were the two healing ceremonies that took place on Sunday. The first, "the transformation of Pain: A Commemorative ceremony of history, Grief, Rage, and Healing" chronicled 200 years of psychiatric abuse perpetrated against oppressed people having various differences - people with psychiatric labels, women, people of color, children, and gays. It ended with the a reading of 10 Core Recommendations from the January 2001 report of
the National Council on Disability titled From Privileges to Rights: People Labeled with Psychiatric Disabilities Speak for Themselves. It also included a Christian commemorative Prayer of Remembrance (by Steve Holochuck, Director of Consumer/Survivor/Ex-Patient Relations in Central Office), a Sufi poem, and a short reading.

Most importantly, since it was Passover weekend, David Stark re-wrote the Jewish Passover Haggadah to reflect our history of oppression as people labeled with psychiatric disabilities. We celebrated our " passing over" from passive service recipients to active participants in our well being and that of others.

The Psychiatric Survivor Seder was repeated at the 2002 retreat and was equally moving and garnered very strong comments on the evaluation.

WRAP in Contra Costa County, CA
by Sharon Kuehn

In Contra Costa County, there have been efforts to make WRAP available to members of the mental health community since Mary Ellen first spoke here in 1999. The Mental Health Administration hired me as a "Wellness Recovery Educator" in April 2001 to work on a variety
of Consumer Empowerment issues, including the implementation of WRAP as part of the Adult System of Care. This included providing in service trainings and working to strengthen and support the efforts to maintain consumer-lead WRAP groups.

As much as the Administration supports the idea of WRAP, finding funding to pay consumer leaders to maintain consistent groups at various locations throughout the county has been challenging. With the closure of one of the four community centers, Mental Health Consumer Concerns had the opportunity to redirect funds to support the activities of the other three centers. Through MHCC, we are just preparing to hire "Recovery Specialists" who will lead regular WRAP
groups in each region of the County, promote the idea of Recovery by demonstrating the reality, and act as peer mentors by teaching self-help strategies and helping people to actualize their goals.

In addition to this formal program, there are several other ways in which WRAP is being used to create very positive results.

1) The WRAP Crisis Plan has been adapted to a form that will be included in an easily accessible location in each client's chart at the outpatient clinics, psychiatric emergency services, and inpatient hospitals. If people choose to, they can also have a legal advanced directive form included in this location in their charts. The Office for Consumer Empowerment WRAP Team will be providing training for all medical staff involved in the use of these charts.

2) The "consumer-provider" staff of the Office for Consumer Empowerment and Mental Health Consumer Concerns has a voluntary WRAP Group that has been meeting over a long period of time. Our most recent focus has been to identify what kinds of symptoms would be visible to co-workers if we were nearing "Breaking Down" or Crisis stages. Then we came up with a list of responses that we would like our co-workers to use in order to best support us in such a time.
Although our agencies don't currently use a formal system to provide reasonable accommodations, it is our hope that creating these personal directives that we will formulate a system in which our plans can serve as individualized guides to our needs if we should ever develop severe symptoms.

3) Mental Health Consumer Concerns has periodically offered the " Mental Health Service Provider Training" for consumers who wish to work as peer counselors, Community Support Workers, or in other consumer-provider positions. This year, we used WRAP as the basis of
our self-care emphasis, and found that WRAP works very effectively in that setting. Students were able to both make use of the plan personally to prepare for the challenges of employment, as well as being equipped with a valuable tool to share with other consumers. Students practiced group facilitation skills in small WRAP groups in class. Some of the graduates of this program will be hired as Recovery Specialists.

Educational Opportunities

Mental Health Recovery Correspondence Course

The four-part Mental Health Recovery Correspondence Course will teach you mental health recovery concepts and skills as well as how to develop a Wellness Recovery Action PlanT for yourself and/or to share with others. It meets the prerequisites for attending Mental Health Recovery Seminar II: Facilitator Training. If you want to attend the Facilitator Training in the fall, this is a good time to begin the Correspondence Course.

In some areas where several people are taking the correspondence course, participants are gathering, usually once a week, to discuss and work on the assignments together. I have found that this works very well. If several people in your area are taking, or considering taking the Correspondence Course, you might consider this option.

A special announcement. The Recovery Education Center at Meta Services Inc. and specifically Val Everton has taking over administration of the Correspondence Course. Val, an experienced recovery educator will, in coordination with me (Mary Ellen Copeland) be reviewing and responding to assignments. The benefits of this new system will be more availability, assistance and timely responses.

The course includes reading and written assignments, projects, activities and phone discussion with the instructor. The three texts for the course are: The Depression Workbook, Living Without Depression and Manic Depression, and Wellness Recovery Action PlanT. The cost is $200 per participant, plus the cost of any needed text books.

Mental Health Recovery Seminar II: Facilitator Training
April 28-May 2, 2003 and September 8-12, 2003

If you want to teach mental health recovery and WRAP, you can become part of an ever expanding network of facilitator's. Come to a training in Vermont for five days of intensive training and strategizing with others from around the world who share your goals and dreams.

Over 350 people have attended this training in the last several years. It has given them the skills and strategies they need to teach mental health recovery skills and strategies including Wellness
Recovery Action Planning to individuals and groups.

Anyone who has met the requirements for the training is welcome. You can meet the prerequisite for this training if you have taken a basic Mental Health Recovery including WRAP training--perhaps it was offered in your area by someone who came to a previous training--or have completed the Correspondence Course described above. Contact my office to see if you qualify or have questions about your qualifications.

People have successfully secured the funding to attend this training through:

1. their State Department of Mental Health, sometimes the Office of Consumer Affairs,
2. consumer operated services,
3. vocational rehabilitation,
4. groups that serve people with disabilities,
5. local or regional mental health agencies and organizations,
6. their church or some other local organization and
7. family members and friends. You may need to reach out to several different funding sources. If you are having difficulty with securing funds, e-mail my office and I can send you a hand-out on how to find funds.

Theses courses fill up early so make your plans soon. The cost of this seminar is $975, including the Facilitator Training Manual. Add your travel and personal expenses. As soon as we receive your registration, we will send you an informational packet on travel arrangements and other details.

Mental Health Recovery Seminar III Refresher Course for Facilitators
April 8-10, 2003 Please note date change.

If you have been facilitating WRAP groups, networking mental health recovery and WRAP information and/or integrating mental health recovery and WRAP into your mental health system, this three day refresher will be most valuable.

In addition to networking and strategizing with other facilitators and trainers, and problem solving, the program will include discussion of:

• the Curriculum upgrade
• effects of the evidence based practice initiative on WRAP and Mental Health Recovery
• research initiatives that prove the effectiveness of WRAP/mental health recovery work
• teaching format possibilities
• advocating for funding and developing funding sources for recovery projects
• influencing the government to get what we want and need
• participating in the nationwide mental health recovery and self help movement
• and a report on the new training in February, Implementing Recovery and WRAP in your Mental Health System.

The cost of this training is $475.

Resources

The Worry Control Workbook

The popular Worry Control Workbook is now available through Peach Press. Is worry taking up too much of your time and energy? Is constant worry literally making you sick? A little worry can actually serve a variety of positive functions, as it does when it helps us identify real problems or motivates us to take some needed action. But for some, worry is the problem, leading to headaches, difficulty sleeping, muscle tension, or other physical symptoms. Others feel perpetually tired, have trouble concentrating, or suffer from depression.

The good news is that you can learn to reduce your anxiety and deal with worry more effectively. The Worry Control Workbook is a supportive and comprehensive guide offering real help to anyone struggling with excessive concerns about health, money, family or work.

Based on an extensive study, author Mary Ellen Copeland has built a practical self-help program that shares the experiences of those who have developed ways to overcome chronic worry. Combining easy-to-follow strategies and techniques with a step-by-step, interactive format, this workbook can help you come to terms with the unique role that worry plays in our life. You'll identify areas where specific types of worry are likely to reoccur and develop new skills for dealing with them so that you may go on to enjoy life with a renewed sense of freedom and balance.

Don't forget to order your free copies of the popular mental health recovery booklets that are available free by calling 1-800-789-2647. or through http://www.mentalhealth.org/highlights/whatsnew/. The titles and numbers of the booklets are: SMA-Building Self-esteem; SMA-3716 Making and Keeping Friends; SMA-3717 Dealing with the
Effects of Trauma, SMA-3718 Developing a Recovery and Wellness Lifestyle; SMA-3719 Speaking Out for Yourself,; SMA-3720 Recovering Your Mental Health: Action Planning for Prevention and Recovery, and SMA# 3504 Recovering Your Mental Health: A Self-Help Guide.

Curriculum Revision

This summer I focused my efforts on revising the Mental Health Recovery and WRAP Curriculum, based on what I have learned in the past few years. I have divided the curriculum into four sections-1.) Key Concepts, 2.) Wellness Tools, 3.) Wellness Recovery Action PlanT, and 4.) Recovery Topics. Recovery Topics has two new sections, Peer Support and Work Related Issues, in addition to Building Self Esteem, Changing Negative Thoughts to Positive Ones, Trauma Recovery, Suicide Prevention, and Lifestyle Issues..

All of the transparencies have been redesigned, reformatted and updated to match the curriculum sections and there are transparencies for the new sections. The CD Rom now has all transparency files available in both black and white for ease of copying (and less expense) and color, specifically designed to be used in a computer and projected onto the wall.

The CD ROM also has a short video--about ten minute--of me (Mary Ellen Copeland) giving the introduction I usually give before I begin a Mental Health and WRAP presentation. You will need a computer to watch it, and a computer projector to show it on a screen or wall. You can share it with our group or use it as a guide in developing your own introduction.

All manuals purchased after September 1, 2002 will have these new sections and the new CD. If you purchased a manual before September 1, and you want these new additions, you can purchase an upgrade package that includes a new CD ROM, new thumbnail sketches and additional information and handouts that can easily be inserted in your manual. However the old manual and CD are just as useful as ever.

Web Site

There are so many new, good resources and web sites becoming available all the time that it has become impossible for me to keep my written resource lists updated. Therefore I am going to try and do it through my website. If you want the latest resource information, you can refer to the resource list on this web site or download it for easy reference.

I have been collecting information on WRAP programs from around the country. I will be putting them up on the website. If you are looking for ideas on how to proceed with your own program, check this out.

E-Group

Join the e-group "mentalhealthrecovery" . Share your experiences and get ideas, advice and support from others with similar problems and issues. Go to www.yahoogroups.com. Then do a search for mentalhealthrecovery. It will pull up two sites--one that is the Mary Ellen Copeland group and one that is in the UK. You may want to join both. Then follow the instructions to register and participate in the group. There have been many lively discussions over the last few years.

New Edition of The Self-Help Group Sourcebook

American Self-Help Group Clearinghouse has revised and updated their valuable reference book, The Self-Help Group Sourcebook: Your Guide to Community & Online Support Groups. It has a keyword-searchable database of over one thousand "self-help" support groups for any specific illness, disability, addiction, bereavement situation, parenting, caregiver concern, abuse, or other stressful life situation. It also has a listing of local non-profit self-help group clearinghouses worldwide. It includes sections with suggestions on starting both community and online groups, research studies, a registry for those trying to start new national or international support networks that don't yet exist in the world, and more. If you prefer to phone to get group information, the Clearinghouse is located in New Jersey and may be reached by phoning (973) 326-6789.

White, Barbara, and Madara, Edward. (2002). The Self-Help Group Sourcebook: Your Guide to Community & Online Support Groups. Denville, NJ: American Self-Help Group Clearinghouse. Group information and resources available free online atwww.selfhelpgroups.org.

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