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Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Department of Health and Human Services

Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration Center for Mental Health Services

Last Updated: 6/22/2012

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SAMHSA’s Resource Center to Promote Acceptance,
Dignity and Social Inclusion Associated with
Mental Health (ADS Center)

 
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Information Update

Promising Practices for Social Inclusion: Peer-Provided Respite Care—Innovative Practices that Promote Wellness and Recovery

View Archived Issues

2011

October—Promising Practices for Social Inclusion: The Key Role of Partnerships and Collaboration to Promote Recovery and Successful Reintegration

August—Promising Practices for Social Inclusion: Housing and Community Supports Foster Successful Reintegration

April—Promising Practices for Social Inclusion: The Important Role of Peers

2010

August—Mental Health for Military Families: The Path to Resilience and Recovery

April—Social Inclusion in Action: Promoting Accurate and Dignified Media Coverage

January—The Mental Health Consumer/Survivor Movement

2009

September—Looking Back on Five Years of Service

August—Using Contact Approach Activities to Promote Social Inclusion

June—Young Adult Involvement in Social Inclusion Efforts

March—Mental Health in the Workplace and the Need for Social Inclusion.

2008

November—Children's Mental Health and the Need for Social Inclusion.

October—Emotional Wellness and Social Inclusion

July—What’s In a Name?

July—SAMHSA announces 2008 CMHR Awardees

April—Reducing Stigma for American Military Personnel

April—Language Matters—The ADS Center Announces Its Name Change

2007

December—Campaign for Mental Health Recovery

June—Celebrating Mental Health Month

February—National Anti-Stigma Campaign and the Power of Peer Support

2006

November—Art Works! Using the Arts to Counter Stigma and Discrimination

August—Overcoming Barriers and the Stigma Associated With Mental Illness In Rural Communities

March—Stigma in the Military

2005

December—Disaster Recovery, Stigma and Peer Support

September—Stigma in Latino/Hispanic Communities

August—Stigma in Asian American and Pacific Islander Communities

May—Stigma in American Indian and Alaska Native Communities

Spring—Stigma in African American Communities

2004

Fall—Rural Issues

Spring—Community Integration

Winter II—Recovery

Winter—Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice

2003

Fall—Attitudes Toward Mental Illness

Spring—Stigma Awareness

November 2011 » Issue 32

Contents

Letter from SAMHSA

“A broad range of services and supports beyond traditional treatments for mental and substance use disorders can help people manage their recovery from mental and substance use disorders. Behavioral health care and support should also be more responsive to the needs and direction of people in recovery and their families.”

—Leading Change: A Plan for SAMHSA’s Roles and Actions, 2011–2014

In Leading Change: A Plan for SAMHSA’s Roles and Actions, 2011–2014, SAMHSA observes that the Affordable Care Act and the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equality Act make insurance coverage and traditional behavioral health care available to more people. However, this legislation does not necessarily give more people access to the recovery supports important to many peers.

“Social inclusion … is achieved when all have the opportunity and resources necessary to participate fully in economic, social, and cultural activities which are considered the societal norm.”

Bouchey, Fremstad, Gragg, and Waller, 2007

SAMHSA’s Recovery Support Initiative, one of eight strategic initiatives outlined in Leading Change, emphasizes the importance of incorporating alternative care options into the services available to people experiencing mental or substance use disorders. This strategic initiative highlights the need for the active participation by people in recovery in the development and implementation of a broader array of care and support services. It also provides a framework for moving communities and service systems to become more socially inclusive.

This issue of the SAMHSA ADS Center Information Update focuses on peer support, and specifically:

  • Offers innovative community approaches for peer-run support programs and services
  • Shares one woman’s experience with peer respite services that helped her avoid hospitalization during a recent emotional crisis
  • Describes a new community program that uses Intentional Peer Support, a form of communication that builds a reciprocal relationship between staff and residents
  • Outlines a national public health education program that is teaching people how to assist someone experiencing an emotional crisis through supportive connections that promote empowerment and reengagement

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Teleconference Summary: Peer Respite Services—Transforming Crisis to Wellness

The SAMHSA ADS Center sponsored a free training teleconference on August 4, 2011 entitled “Peer Respite Services: Transforming Crisis to Wellness.” The teleconference, which featured presentations by Dr. Peggy Swarbrick, Sherry Jenkins Tucker, and Steve Miccio, highlighted the following topics:

  • The evolution of peer respite services, components of successful programs, and research showing outcomes that support this progressive model of recovery support
  • Practical strategies for core operational functions, such as funding peer respite services and training the workforce including Certified Peer Specialists
  • How peer respite services can help to shift community systems and supports—families/friends, housing, employment, justice, mental health—to be more trauma informed, socially inclusive, and recovery driven

If you were unable to participate in the teleconference, or would like to listen to it or view the slides again, you can access it here.

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In My Experience: Peers Helping Peers Promotes Healing and Recovery

Mael Dinnell shares her experience at 2nd Story Respite House, where peers helping peers makes all the difference:

It started with a whisper. Soon intrusive voices were yelling at me. “You deserved every bit of it.” I was scared to go into the shower. People were shouting at me from cars and bikes: “We’ll get you!”

Naturally I became nervous, vigilant, and antsy. I didn’t want to go to the hospital or local crisis house facility. … I needed an infusion of community and a situation in which I could “reality check” as much as I needed to. 2nd Story Respite House in Santa Cruz was new—2 months old—and as a mental health facility broke free of the ancient paradigm of provider, client, and the impassable boundary between them. The staff was trained in Intentional Peer Support, or IPS, and trauma intervention. The facility is based on the new and largely unexplored idea that peers can best help peers—not as a substitute for provider-oriented hierarchy, but as a complement to it.

Read Mael’s story and support others by sharing your own.

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A Community Model: Santa Cruz, California 2nd Story Respite House

By Respite House Staff & Guests, 2nd Story Respite House

2nd Story Respite House is moving towards a revolutionary transformation in mental health care. We exist because inspired people with lived mental health experiences connected with Santa Cruz County mental health program administrators, sharing their view that a Federal Mental Health Transformation Grant should be written and submitted. Mutual goals were negotiated to reach a vision of a peer-run respite house that would theoretically decrease hospitalization costs for the county while providing a valuable life experience for the mental health client. This Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration grant application was approved to fund a peer-run respite house for 5 years, during which time data will be compiled to determine whether or not this community model is cost and more importantly, spiritually effective.

Intrinsic in the vision of our program is Intentional Peer Support, or IPS, a form of communication that promotes a reciprocal relationship between staff and residents, encouraging mutually responsible relationships and self-agency. Through connection, sharing worldviews, negotiating mutuality, and moving towards more fulfilling lives, we operate within the new paradigm of trauma-informed care rather than the medical model. We offer a comfortable, clean, furnished house in a quiet, safe neighborhood, fully staffed with people who identify as trauma-informed individuals and/or mental health peers. We also offer conversation, good food, musical interludes, walks, assorted adventures, and a challenging atmosphere where people are invited to examine the way we create ourselves in relationship to the world and each other.

Our 2nd Story Respite House offers folks, those who work there and those who come to stay, who traditionally have been underrepresented, mistreated, and abused, an opportunity to remember their inherent value of being persons with a place in community and, as identified in the U.S. Declaration of Independence, their "unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

For further information, visit https://www.facebook.com/2ndStoryRespite#!/ 2ndStoryRespite External Web Site Policy. or call 831-466-0967.

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A National Model: Emotional CPR

By Lauren Spiro, Director, National Coalition for Mental Health Recovery

eCPR is a public health education program designed to teach anyone to assist another person through an emotional crisis.

Emotional crisis is a universal experience—it can happen to anyone, at any time. Our approach is holistic, hopeful, and empowering. Through practicing eCPR, we learn to better understand seemingly unusual behaviors that can accompany an emotional crisis. Rather than labeling someone with a “mental health problem,” our approach assumes that the person is facing an experience that overwhelms his or her ability to cope. We learn how to form supportive connections so that we act as a bridge between a person in distress and the community at large, supporting people to make a full, timely return to a life that has meaning and purpose for them. 

The three components of eCPR are C = connecting, P = emPowering and R = revitalizing.

  1. Connecting begins with being fully present for the other person, listening with our full attention, which creates emotional safety, cultivates hope, validates the person, and communicates care.
  2. EmPowering assists the person with regaining a sense of mastery, accessing his or her inner wisdom, and planning for the future. EmPowering is based on a “power with” as opposed to “power over” relationship.
  3. Revitalizing helps people re-engage in relationships, roles, and routines that support living a full and gratifying life
Community Benefits

Laypeople certified in eCPR can help others recover from severe emotional distress, trauma, and/or disasters, thus preventing unnecessary use of costly hospital emergency rooms and mental health services. When people feel that they have a meaningful and valued place in the community, they are less likely to “act out” and hurt themselves or others. Thus, eCPR helps build stronger and more resilient communities.

For further information, please visit the Web site http://www.emotional-cpr.org External Web Site Policy. or e-mail info@emotional-cpr.org.

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More Information: Social Inclusion Programs, Technical Assistance Tools, and Research

This section includes highlights from the ADS Center’s online resource collection, a searchable database of 1000+ research articles, brochures, guides, toolkits, and resource organizations. You can search our resources by audience or topic at http://promoteacceptance.samhsa.gov/default.aspx.

Please note: The descriptions below are pulled from or based upon the language provided on the organizations’ Web sites.

Promoting Systems Transformation

The National Empowerment Center (NEC) Web site section on peer-run crisis alternatives provides resources on peer-run crisis services in various areas, information on starting a peer-run alternative program, and evidence-based research materials on peer-run crisis alternatives. To access this section, visit http://www.power2u.org/peer-run-crisis-alternatives.html External Web Site Policy..

The Diversion Respite Manual of Projects to Empower and Organize the Psychiatrically Labeled (PEOPLe), Inc. will help guide others in developing hospital diversion services for individuals with mental disorders in their communities. The outline of this manual is currently available; the downloadable manual will be available at the following link later this year: http://login.npwebsiteservices.com/PEOPLE/DiversionRespiteManual.asp External Web Site Policy..

“What Recovery Means in Acute Care,” a webinar put on by the Recovery to Practice Project, discusses the integration of peers in acute care settings, ways of creating climates of recovery, and outcomes from a trial of a peer-run crisis residential alternative to psychiatric hospitalization. You can access webinar files through this link, http://www.dsgonline.com/rtp/webinars/9.16.2010.html External Web Site Policy..

The Memphis Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) is a first responder program for police officers that provides crisis intervention training to enable officers to better respond to calls involving people with mental and substance use disorders who are experiencing a crisis. A map on their Web site includes contact information for CIT programs currently in operation throughout the U.S. To learn more about this innovative program visit their Web site, http://cit.memphis.edu/index.php External Web Site Policy..

The National Association of Peer Specialists is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting peer specialists throughout the United States and improving treatment for those with mental disorders through peer support. To learn more, visit http://www.naops.org External Web Site Policy. or call 616–676–9230.

Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance Peer Specialist Training features a nationally developed curriculum that prepares participants to be peer specialists who provide recovery-focused services. To learn more, please visit http://www.dbsalliance.org/site/PageServer?pagename=training_certified_peer_specialist External Web Site Policy..

Vets4Vets is dedicated to using peer support to help veterans recover from the psychological injuries of war. To learn more about the resources, support groups, and workshops offered through Vets4Vets, visit http://www.vets4vets.us External Web Site Policy..

Vet to Vet is a consumer/provider partnership program where veterans in recovery learn to provide peer counseling through which both people learn and grow. The organization is dedicated to helping veterans rejoin their communities as fully participating members. To learn more, visit http://vet2vetusa.org/Home/tabid/37/Default.aspx External Web Site Policy..

NAMI Peer-to-Peer is a peer-led learning program that provides tools to help participants maintain their wellness and recovery and be better prepared to deal with an emotional crisis. For more information, visit http://www.nami.org/template.cfm?section=peer-to-peer External Web Site Policy..

The National Coalition for Mental Health Recovery’s section on peer-run respite provides information and video resources on peer-run respite services as an alternative approach to healing and recovery. For more information please visit their Web site at http://ncmhr.org/peer-run-respite.htm External Web Site Policy..

Changing Community Perceptions and Influencing Local Systems

PEOPLe, Inc. networks and collaborates with current systems, including local hospitals, to counter prejudice and discrimination through educational and social programs and to remove barriers to quality care for individuals with mental disorders. Learn more about PEOPLe, Inc. by visiting their Web site, http://www.projectstoempower.org External Web Site Policy..

The NEC Directory of Peer-run Crisis Services provides a list of various peer-run alternatives to psychiatric hospitalization that are currently operating in a number of communities throughout the United States. You can view this NEC list through the following link, http://www.power2u.org/peer-run-crisis-services.html External Web Site Policy..

A Case Study of the Peer-Run Crisis Respite Organizing Process in Massachusetts explores one group’s efforts to develop peer-run crisis respites (PRCRs) in their State. Information on different models of PRCRs, organizational processes, and successful methods used to help inform other communities are also discussed. To access this study, please visit http://ncmhr.org/downloads/Ostrow_Groundhogs-case-study.pdf [PDF - 706 Kb] External Web Site Policy..

In this book, Mental Health Self-Help: Consumer and Family Initiatives, the history of the mental health self-help approach is discussed, as well as views on how consumer/survivor advocacy is enhancing health care for individuals with mental disorders, helping the consumer movement grow, and changing systems. http://www.amazon.com/Mental-Health-Self-Help-Consumer-Initiatives/dp/1441962522 External Web Site Policy..

Supporting Personal Wellness and Recovery

The Virginia Organization of Consumers Asserting Leadership, or VOCAL, promotes recovery from mental disorders, self-determination, and peer leadership. They also work to change the current health system and develop alternatives for people with mental disorders. To learn more, please visit their Web site, http://www.vocalvirginia.org External Web Site Policy..

Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) is a guide for people to develop their own individualized plan to maintain wellness and address crisis and other challenges related to one’s mental disorder. With WRAP, people use wellness tools to help themselves develop a personal action plan. Learn more about this plan through the following link, http://www.mentalhealthrecovery.com External Web Site Policy..

The Georgia Mental Health Consumer Network Peer Support, Wellness, and Respite Centers provide an alternative to hospitalization for individuals with mental disorders through temporary residential support where peer support, respite, and other activities are offered. For more information please visit their Web site at http://www.gmhcn.org/wellnesscenter/index.html External Web Site Policy..

“Crisis and Connection” and other articles by Shery Mead describe different approaches to peer support and her work, which highlights the importance of connecting with others and establishing quality relationships. Through her Web site, she shares links to articles that include topics on recovery, crisis, and research on peer support. To learn more about these resources, please visit http://www.mentalhealthpeers.com/booksarticles.html External Web Site Policy..

This article, “Nuts and Bolts: A Technical Assistance Guide for Mental Health Consumer/Survivor Self-Help Groups,” highlights the important role that consumers/survivors can play in the recovery of others. Also, in this article, people leading consumer/survivor-run organizations share recommendations to others who want to develop their own organizations. To access this publication, visit http://www.mhselfhelp.org/resources/view.php?resource_id=705 External Web Site Policy..

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Information and Research

Agar-Jacomb, K., & Read, J. (2009). Mental health crisis services: What do service users need when in crisis? External Web Site Policy. Journal of Mental Health, 18(2), 99–110. doi: 10.1080/09638230701879227

Allen, M., Carpenter, D., Sheets, J., Miccio, S., & Ross, R. (2003). What do consumers say they want and need during a psychiatric emergency? Journal of Psychiatric Practice, 9(1), 39–58. Retrieved from http://journals.lww.com/practicalpsychiatry/Abstract/2003/01000/ What_Do_Consumers_Say_They_Want_and_Need_During_a.5.aspx External Web Site Policy.

Bologna, M. J., & Pulice, R. T. (in press). An evaluation of a peer-run hospital diversion program: A descriptive study. American Journal of Psychosocial Rehabilitation.

Greenfield, T. K., Stoneking, B. C., Humphreys, K., Sundby, E., & Bond, J. A. (2008). A randomized trial of a mental health consumer-managed alternative to civil commitment for acute psychiatric crisis [PDF - 265.5 Kb] External Web Site Policy.. American Journal of Community Psychology, 42(1–2), 135–144. doi: 10.1007/s10464-008-9180-1

Hopkins, C., & Niemiec, S. (2007). Mental health crisis at home: Service user perspectives on what helps and what hinders External Web Site Policy.. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 14(3), 310–318. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2850.2007.01083.

Landers, G. M., & Zhou, M. (2009). An analysis of relationships among peer support, psychiatric hospitalization, and crisis stabilization [PDF - 179.45 Kb] External Web Site Policy.. Community Mental Health Journal, 47(1), 106–112. doi: 10.1007/s10597-009-9218-3

Lyons, C., Hopley, P., Burton, C. R., & Horrocks, J. (2009). Mental health crisis and respite services: Service user and career aspirations External Web Site Policy.. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 16(5), 424–433. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2850.2009.01393

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ABOUT SAMHSA ADS CENTER
This update is from the SAMHSA ADS Center (Resource Center to Promote Acceptance, Dignity and Social Inclusion Associated with Mental Health). SAMHSA ADS Center is a program of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Center for Mental Health Services, Office of Consumer Affairs. We encourage you to share this information with others and to post it in your own newsletters or email lists.

This Web site was developed under contract with the Office of Consumer Affairs in SAMHSA’s Center for Mental Health Services. The views, opinions, and content provided on this Web site do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, or policies of SAMHSA or HHS. The resources listed in this Web site are not all-inclusive and inclusion on this Web site does not constitute an endorsement by SAMHSA or HHS.