Sharing the Message of Hope, Wellness, and Recovery with Consumers Psychiatric Hospitals

Abstract

The concept of wellness has been emerging in the recovery field as an exciting new paradigm for understanding health and encompasses the following dimensions: physical, social, emotional, intellectual, occupational, and spiritual (Swarbrick, 1997 Swarbrick , M. ( 1997 ). A wellness model for clients . Mental Health Special Interest Section Quarterly , 20 , 1 – 4 . [CSA] [Google Scholar]). Efforts are underway in New Jersey to incorporate this concept into the programming of consumer-run mental health services (e.g., self-help centers) and there has been some interest on the part of more traditional rehabilitation settings to incorporate this philosophy into their treatment practices as well. A statewide, consumer-run project was developed whereby consumers of mental health services go back into state psychiatric facilities in New Jersey as consultants, teaching wellness and recovery principles and strategies to current patients and staff. This article will describe how a small cadre of consumers (ex-patients) gained access to training opportunities and enough support to present a curriculum in basic principles and strategies of wellness and recovery at state hospitals. The challenges in bringing recovery-oriented thinking into settings that historically have been resistant to change will be shared as well as the success of the Recovery Network Project.