RecoveryRecoveryA New Model for Veterans A New Model for Veterans

Affairs Mental Health Affairs Mental Health ProgramsPrograms

The President’s New Freedom The President’s New Freedom Commission Vision StatementCommission Vision Statement

We envision a future when everyone We envision a future when everyone with a mental illness will recover, a with a mental illness will recover, a future when mental illnesses can be future when mental illnesses can be prevented or cured, a future when prevented or cured, a future when everyone with a mental illness at any everyone with a mental illness at any stage of life has access to effective stage of life has access to effective treatment and supports-essentials treatment and supports-essentials for living, working, learning, and for living, working, learning, and participating fully in the community. participating fully in the community.

Ok, but what is it exactly?Ok, but what is it exactly?

There is no universally accepted definition of There is no universally accepted definition of recovery or the recovery model. However, the recovery or the recovery model. However, the following is a representative definition. following is a representative definition.

“ “Mental health recovery is a journey of healing Mental health recovery is a journey of healing and transformation for a person with a mental and transformation for a person with a mental health condition to be able to live fulfilling health condition to be able to live fulfilling and meaningful life in communities of his or and meaningful life in communities of his or her choice while striving towards personal her choice while striving towards personal goals”. goals”.

HOW DO WE MOVE FROM THE MEDICAL MODEL HOW DO WE MOVE FROM THE MEDICAL MODEL OF…….OF…….

• Treating illnessesTreating illnesses

• Provider directed careProvider directed care

• Problem-Symptom basedProblem-Symptom based

• Focused on symptom reductionFocused on symptom reduction

• The ability to encourage dependence upon the systemThe ability to encourage dependence upon the system

• Medication being the main way to achieve symptom Medication being the main way to achieve symptom reductionreduction

• Stigmatizing--with the ability to discourage hope about Stigmatizing--with the ability to discourage hope about the futurethe future

TOTO

THE RECOVERY ORIENTED CARE MODEL WHICH….THE RECOVERY ORIENTED CARE MODEL WHICH….

• Engages veterans in proactively managing their own Engages veterans in proactively managing their own responses to symptomsresponses to symptoms

• Determines veterans goals and offers information-Determines veterans goals and offers information-choices to achieve themchoices to achieve them

• Uses Evidenced Based Practices to support goal Uses Evidenced Based Practices to support goal attainmentattainment

• Encourages hope for the futureEncourages hope for the future• Promotes veterans as partners in carePromotes veterans as partners in care• Is augmented by peer supportIs augmented by peer support• Encourages human experiencesEncourages human experiences• Is strengths-basedIs strengths-based• Promotes choicePromotes choice

Fundamental Elements and Fundamental Elements and Guiding Guiding Principles Principles

• HopeHope

• Self-directionSelf-direction

• Individualized Individualized

• EmpowermentEmpowerment

• ResponsibilityResponsibility

• HolisticHolistic

• Non LinearNon Linear

• Strengths BasedStrengths Based

• Peer SupportPeer Support

• RespectRespect

Non-LinearNon-Linear

Recovery is not a step by step Recovery is not a step by step process but one based on process but one based on continual growth, occasional continual growth, occasional setbacks, and learning from setbacks, and learning from these experiences. Growth can these experiences. Growth can occur in different areas of one’s occur in different areas of one’s life at different times. life at different times.

What do Recovery Oriented What do Recovery Oriented Mental Health Services Look Mental Health Services Look Like?Like? According to SAMHSA and others, According to SAMHSA and others,

recovery oriented mental health recovery oriented mental health services hold as a core value that services hold as a core value that people with mental illnesses are not people with mental illnesses are not defined by their illness and can live defined by their illness and can live rich satisfying lives. rich satisfying lives.

Such Programs and Such Programs and Services…Services…• View the veteran as the View the veteran as the

center of the process, and center of the process, and foster empowerment. foster empowerment.

• Respect and include Respect and include the veteran and the veteran and involved family involved family members as partners members as partners in treatment/servicesin treatment/services..

• Recognize that recovery is a Recognize that recovery is a dynamic process that the dynamic process that the veteran pursues over time. veteran pursues over time.

• Seek to restore hope and Seek to restore hope and return to functioningreturn to functioning

• Value self help and peer Value self help and peer supportsupport

• Work to maximize quality Work to maximize quality of lifeof life

• Help the veteran to move Help the veteran to move forward toward his/her forward toward his/her goals, not focusing on only goals, not focusing on only symptom stabilization. symptom stabilization.

• Employ staff who treat the Employ staff who treat the veteran with respect, veteran with respect, believe in the veteran as a believe in the veteran as a person with potential, and person with potential, and express hope and express hope and optimism for the recovery optimism for the recovery process. process.

How are we doing this?How are we doing this?

• We are now required to ask about family We are now required to ask about family member involvement upon every admission member involvement upon every admission and at least once a year for out-patients. and at least once a year for out-patients.

• We must document the name and contact We must document the name and contact numbers for family members and/or friends numbers for family members and/or friends that the veteran identifies as someone he/she that the veteran identifies as someone he/she wants involved in their treatment. wants involved in their treatment.

• If the veteran doesn’t identify any one, we If the veteran doesn’t identify any one, we must document that the question was asked. must document that the question was asked.

Support and Family Education Support and Family Education (SAFE)(SAFE)

Please fill out the survey!!!!!Please fill out the survey!!!!!

This is a program that has 18 workshops This is a program that has 18 workshops organized around four categoriesorganized around four categories

• Information about disordersInformation about disorders

• Skills for family membersSkills for family members

• The experience of caring for someone with The experience of caring for someone with a serious mental illnessa serious mental illness

• Dealing with family, friends, and Dealing with family, friends, and professionalsprofessionals

Goals of SAFEGoals of SAFE

• To teach family members and friends of To teach family members and friends of individuals with mental illness about the individuals with mental illness about the symptoms and course of mental illness. symptoms and course of mental illness.

• To afford family members an opportunity To afford family members an opportunity to ask questions about psychiatric to ask questions about psychiatric disorders and treatment options.disorders and treatment options.

• To reduce the stigma of mental illness by To reduce the stigma of mental illness by providing a forum in which to discuss providing a forum in which to discuss concerns and obtain support from peers. concerns and obtain support from peers.

Goals continuedGoals continued

• To publicize the availability of mental health To publicize the availability of mental health services at the VA Medical Center.services at the VA Medical Center.

• To help family members understand the To help family members understand the importance of early intervention for their importance of early intervention for their loved one as well as open and timely loved one as well as open and timely communication with providers.communication with providers.

• To link family members with opportunities To link family members with opportunities for support both at the medical centers and for support both at the medical centers and through community agencies such as NAMI. through community agencies such as NAMI.