The concept of WRAP was developed as part of her recovery by Mary Ellen Copeland. Mary Ellen Copeland has experienced episodes of severe mania and depression for most of her life. She developed the WRAP together with other people who have been dealing with psychiatric symptoms for many years and are working hard to feel better and get on with their lives.

The WRAP is a structured system for monitoring uncomfortable and distressing symptoms and, through planned responses, reducing, modifying or eliminating those symptoms.

It is based on an ongoing study of the day to day coping strategies of people who experience psychiatric symptoms and of how people have got well and stayed well.

Any one can write their own WRAP. Click HERE for WRAP Workshops.

It is a personal document part or all of which you may choose to share with those that support you so that they can understand what you want from life and how you want to manage your symptoms when you have them. A WRAP therefore includes plans for responses from others when your symptoms have made it impossible for you to continue to make decisions, take care of yourself or keep yourself safe.

A WRAP follows the key "Recovery" concepts of building hope, personal responsibility, education, self advocacy and support and has five sections.

Section 1 - Daily Maintenance Plan

• A description of how you feel when you are well
• A list of everything you need to do every day to maintain your wellness
• A list of things you might need to consider doing that day
  

Section 2 - Triggers

• Identifies those events or situations which, if they occur might cause uncomfortable triggers to begin
• A plan of "what to do" if any of these triggers occur
  

Section 3 - Early Warning Signs

• Involves identification of those subtle signs that may indicate the situation is beginning to worsen
• A plan of "what to do" if any of the early warning signs are noticed
  

Section 4 - When things are breaking down

• You can still take action on your behalf
• A plan of "what to do" if any of these symptoms occur
  

Section 5 - Crisis Plan

The Crisis Plan identifies those symptoms that indicate you can no longer continue to make decisions, take care of yourself and keep yourself safe. It is for use by supporters and healthcare professionals on your behalf, on your prior request as the person who developed the plan.

The planning process begins by developing a Wellness Toolbox, a listing of skill and strategies that you have used or want to use to keep your self well and to help your self feel better when you do not feel well;

• Part 1- information that identifies what you are like when you are well
• Part 2- identifies those symptoms that indicate others need to take over responsibility for your care
• Part 3- names those supporters and identifies their roles
• Part 4- identifies those medications, which, if necessary, are all right with you, those that are not, and the reasons why
• Part 5- gives you the option of developing a home, community care or respite centre plan to use, if possible, in lieu of hospitalisation
• Part 6- identifies treatment facilities which are all right with you, those which are not and the reasons why
• Part 7- identifies the treatments, which, if necessary, are all right with you, those which are not and the reasons why
• Part 8- is an intensive description of what is wanted from supporters- and what is not wanted- when symptoms become this intense
• Part 9- gives information for supporters to use in determining when you no longer need to use your crisis plan.

Within Herefordshire there are people working on their own WRAPs and training others to support people in writing a WRAP.

For further information contact:
Jeannine Alsop at 25 St Owen St
Tel: 01432 265123
E-mail: jeannine.alsop@herefordpct.nhs.uk

WRAP WORKSHOPS

Jeannine Alsop, Caz Lithgoe and Robin Woodward trained with Mary Ellen Copeland at UCE in October 2001 where they completed the ‘Training for Trainers' course. Since that time they have delivered WRAP/Recovery workshops and courses for service users, professionals and students in Herefordshire, Worcester, Weston-Super-Mare and Manchester .

Current Projects

• A 10 week WRAP course for service users through the MIND education service LEAP (June to July 2005, next one planned for February 2006). An opportunity to develop your own WRAP in a group!
• One day training for staff at MIND (July 2005).
• One day workshops for student nurses at Worcester University College (ongoing).

The workshops are open to anyone with an interest in mental health recovery.

Topics include key recovery concepts, developing a wellness lifestyle, crisis planning and developing your own WRAP.

Contact:
Jeannine Alsop
25 - 27 St Owen St
Hereford

Tel: 01432 265123
E-mail: jeannine.alsop@herefordpct.nhs.uk