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West Midlands Recovery Network Contact: Introduction: The Recovery Network has grown out of work completed by Piers Allott over the last 6 years in the West Midlands beginning with the series of five Directional Papers produced for the West Midlands Partnerships in Mental Health that include recovery as the 'Guiding Vision for the 1990's'. In 2000, Piers was seconded to the Centre for Mental Health Policy
at the University of Central England and developed a Recovery Research
Project to help to bring recovery into a UK context. As part of
this he undertook training with Mary Ellen Copeland in Vermont,
US and delivered the first 2-day WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action
Plan) training in January 2001. Participants on this course were
so enthused that they wanted to find ways of promoting the idea
and practice of recovery in mental health that led to establishing
the Network. The Network was launched at a conference delivered
by Helen Glover from Australia in May and as of September 2001,
the Network has more than 150 members.
Ideas for Network Action Helen Glover (Challenging Mental Impotence, 2001) talks about the recovery journey as a train journey and in the Caboolture service established a number of very interesting ideas which are stimulating and worth considering as part of the developing Network. To mention one approach in particular - they established what they called 'Recovery Cells' which were groups of 3/4/5 people who formed a recovery support group and decided how often they met and how they would support each other (in WRAP terms, supporters) but for some people who did not like groups they established 'Recovery Friends' which was two people who came together to do the same thing. They also established 'Recovery Retreats' where they would go away for weekends and do challenging activities that contributed to each persons' wellness and personal development. The current idea for the Network is to be a self-recovery project in the control of people with 'lived experience'. Helen talked about the importance of having 'holders of hope' which is what 'recovery cells and friends' can do. In the paper she says that "So many times we ask our mental health professionals to be our "Holders of Hope". Sadly most of them however can't be our "Holders of Hope" because they come from the 'mind set' that "I do not believe that you can recover, therefore you cannot recover". She also said in relation to the concept of recovery cells and friends "Considering the 'Holders of Hope' concept - "I will be your "Holder of Hope" and you will be my "Holder of Hope" and we will walk together through this recovery journey. When difficult times come we will already have planned how we want to support each other." The Network will include people with lived experience, their family members and friends, mental health professionals and staff and will not exclude anyone, provided 'they believe recovery is possible for all people who experience serious mental distress'. Network Members bear in mind the 5 core components of recovery; Hope, Personal Responsibility, Education, Self Advocacy and Support and it is hoped that these together with a Charter or Principals of operation and/or Safety Contract will be the way to ensure some common approaches between groups. One principal that Mary Ellen Copeland repeats over and over, that is important, is that we should 'treat all people with unconditional high regard'. If we ensure that the principals on which we operate are clear, inclusive, non-discriminatory, personally valuing, strengths and recovery oriented then the Network can become a powerful force. The Network will aim to organise periodic Region-wide events at which Network members can come together but establishing local support groups and work on personal recovery at local levels is essential. Contact will be maintained through a periodic Newsletter.
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