Magazine - Complete

Recovery 5 Years on

Page 2 Celebrating Recovery

Celebrating Recovery Page 3

Page 4 Celebrating Recovery Celebrating Recovery - The Mental Health Charter Five Years On The Recovery Conference on the 13th of April 2016 was organised to celebrate the introduction of The Mental Health Charter which stipulates how individuals with mental health difficulties are to be treated. The Charter details what every individual in Cardiff and the Vale can expect from health services when being treated for a variety of mental health problems. The Charter was created by service users, carers, the Third Sector and the Cardiff & Vale University Health Board. A great deal of work and thought went into the creation of the Charter and it was very rewarding to mark The Charter’s introduction and its effects five years on. A special thank you must go to the service users who took part in and allowed the conference to see their video stories in which they expressed their personal recovery journey. It was such a valuable contribution to the conference and they are to be commended for sharing. The videos crystallised the struggles faced by individuals with mental health difficulties and offered hope to all. Many were inspired by this. It was a pleasure to Co-Chair the Conference and be part of the very positive atmosphere generated by those who attended. My final positive note to finish on was that those attending the confer- ence overwhelmingly agreed that things have improved since the launch of The Charter. We should celebrate this and all motivate ourselves to do even more to ensure all individuals affected by mental health difficulties are supported in their personal recovery journey. Paul Brown Co-Chair, Service User & Volunteer.

Celebrating Recovery Page 5 Our attitudes towards mental health are improving. As a society, we are increasingly recognising that our mental and physical health both need care and attention, that mental illness really can be tackled, and that treating mental illness as a taboo does no-one any favours. At the same time, our mental health services have also been improving, and key to this has been the adoption of Recovery as our key philosophy. Our whole approach is now geared to working in partnership, to give people hope. The aim is to give people back control over their lives, to live as they wish and do the things they want, living with resilience despite their mental illness. This is what mental health services are for. At the heart of this is a belief in genuine partnership work- ing, whether that’s between the individual service user and their team, or between all the different agencies working to- gether to deliver the Recovery Ethos across Cardiff and the Vale. This celebration event was exactly that – a brief opportunity to stand back and celebrate the progress we’ve made, and to focus on what needs to happen next. The examples from Scotland were inspiring; so too was the progress we have made locally. It was a great opportunity to reflect on how far we have come, and to reaffirm our shared determination to embed the Recovery Ethos in everything we do. Professor Marcus Longley Vice-Chair Cardiff and the Vale UHB Co-Chair

Page 6 Celebrating Recovery Celebrating Recovery Event—The Background The Cardiff and Vale Charter for Mental health was launched in February 2011, an event attended by over 100—including people using services, carers, voluntary sector, health, local authority, social services, housing, education and police. This followed a number of multi-stakeholder conferences (the first initiated by service users) working groups, action plans and events over a number of years to explore what recovery means and how to make it a reality within Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan. The Charter is based upon the principles of person centered planning, with a human rights basis and includes practical guidance for implementation for staff, individuals, organisations and commis- sioners. This event—Celebrating Recovery 5 years on—was an opportunity to explore together what has been achieved, what has worked well, what barriers remain and what we need to do next. Recovery Heads Throughout the magazine you will see many of the art works produced during our creative workshop using the Recovery Logo. Participants were asked to use the outline heads and diverse materials provided to express their thoughts, feelings, experiences and ideas around the theme of Recovery. Larger versions of these wonderful creations can be seen on our website at : www.cavamh.org.uk

Page 7 Celebrating Recovery Introduction Celebrating Recovery 2016 was organised by a collaborative working group made up of people with experience of using mental health services and of caring for those who use these services and staff from the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, Gofal, Hafal, Cardiff and Vale and Vale Action for Mental Health. This group decided on the format, structure and venue for the event. Attendees came with a number of interests, including those who have used mental health services and carers, staff of Health Boards and Local Authorities and of Voluntary Sector organisations, and other interested parties. Theme: To discuss progress in mental health since the launch of the Recovery Charter (Mental Health Charter). Structure: There were 3 keynote speakers to open the conference Phil Chick, Assistant Director, NHS Delivery unit spoke on Recovery - the Wales perspective. Gwyneth Statham Service User and Trainer gave a Service user perspective on recovery and Louise Christie from the Scottish Recovery Network gave a brief introduction to their work which she would expand upon during the afternoon workshop session. The opening sessions were followed by the screening of several videos made by service users which gave insight into their own personal recovery stories. Workshops: In addition to the Keynote Speakers, there were nine discussion groups. The groups were allocated before the Conference to ensure a mix of people. Each group discussed 'What is going Well' in relation to mental health services. The second topic was 'What Doesn't work well' with a view to establishing how to improve mental health provision. Discussion group three was to identify 'Gaps and Priorities' for the future. This was very successful and was a clear demonstration of how co-production can bring people from a variety of backgrounds together.

Page 8 Celebrating Recovery Recovery and Welsh Policy Perspectives “Mental health recovery is a complex and individual process, an ongoing journey that involves the development of new meaning and purpose in one's life as one grows beyond the effects of mental illness.” Code of Practice to Parts 2 and 3 of the Mental Health (Wales) Measure 2010 In order to ensure that care and treatment is most effective in maximising recovery, the assessment, planning and delivery of that care is to be holistic. This means addressing a broad range of medical, psychological, social, physical, linguistic, cultural and spiritual needs which in the case of children are developmentally appropriate. In formulating the care and treatment plan, care coordinators need to focus on the needs of the relevant patient, rather than the services that currently exist and could therefore be provided. In addition to services available in specialist mental health services, consideration should also be given to broader services such as education, training, employment, faith groups and leisure services that may assist in a relevant patient’s recovery. Recovery in this context means regaining mental health to the maxi- mum extent possible and achieving the best possible quality of life, lived as independently as possible. In children this also includes achieving the relevant patient’s optimum physical, psychological and social development Furthermore recovery can be looked at in terms of hope – the belief that it is possible for someone to regain in time a meaningful life, de- spite serious mental illness. The process of achieving this is unique to each individual. Some, for instance, may seek to challenge and overcome the problems that have affected their lives and regain their previous way of life; some may seek to change in a way that accommodates their difficulties within a new or different lifestyle.

Page 9 Celebrating Recovery Recovery and Welsh Policy Perspectives Some may change or develop their hopes and aims in time, in the nature of a journey. Recovery is often referred to as a process, outlook, vision, conceptual framework or a set of guiding principles and care coordinators should facilitate every individual to explore and to set their own aims in what recovery means to them. Recovery does not always, therefore, refer to the process of complete recovery or cure. It can be applied regardless of a person’s age but care is required in the use of the term when addressing people with a dementia. It may be possible to review each individual’s circumstances to establish if any changes may lead to ‘recovering’ some abilities. For this group, recovery can be looked at as a person centred or reablement approach focusing on maximising the individual’s abilities and strengths at every stage despite a gradual process of decline, in order that they enjoy the best possible quality of life. Together for Mental Health ‘The Strategy reinforces the need to promote better mental wellbeing among the whole population. It addresses the needs of people with mental health problems or a mental illness, ensuring those vulnerable people in most need receive the appropriate priority. It focuses on how to improve the lives of service users and their families using a recovery and enablement approach.’ ‘Describes our vision for a well designed, fully integrated net- work of care. It is based on the recovery and enablement of service users throughout the life course, helping people to live as fulfilled and independent lives as possible’.

Page 10 Celebrating Recovery Recovery and Welsh Policy Perspectives Providing a holistic approach to improving mental health for people of all ages in Wales requires a cross-Government approach, with public services, the voluntary and independent sectors working to- gether. Doing so will help to prevent mental health issues escalating and will support and sustain recovery and enablement for those with a mental illness. It will also help to achieve the wider ambitions of Programme for Government. Training the Mental Health Workforce: Clinical leaders need to empower their staff to deliver holistic ser- vices based on the recovery and enablement approach and on the appropriate management of risk. The quality of the relationship be- tween practitioner and service user is central to this approach. We want to foster a culture in which staff work alongside service users, recognising the contributions they can make to their recovery. This will ensure that humanity, compassion and respect lie at the heart of service delivery and that outcomes are agreed with service users. Systemic barriers to recovery • Low expectations of people’s potential • Narrow care planning • Poor understanding of the social context of mental health and • mental illness • Risk aversion and defensive practice • Specialism v genericism • Fragmented delivery What does recovery mean to me? An approach which ensures that all activity is directed at ensuring the service user’s potential, quality of life and Independence is maximised. It requires a positive, strengths based focus on hopeful- ness and ambition. Phill Chick Assistant Director NHS Delivery Unit

Page 11 Celebrating Recovery The Scottish Recovery Network The Scottish Recovery Network (SRN) has been in existence since 2004 promoting a vision of ‘A Scotland where mental health recovery is a reality for all’. During this time the organisation has worked with people, organisations and communities to: Increase knowledge and understanding of recovery Empower people with mental health problems to lead their own re- covery Influence recovery focused policy, practice and service development SRN has influenced people and services to begin to operate in a way that supports recovery principles, providing and supporting hope. Central to SRN’s work is empowering people to live the life they want. Where this has had the biggest impact has been where lived experience of illness, recovery and wellness has informed and directed research and practice. Recovery is possible and should be a feature of life for everyone in Scotland. Distress affects us all at different points in our lives, and in different ways. It is a common experience for all human beings. SRN want to see a Scotland where recovering life from distress is the norm, where we can celebrate what we have survived and thrive in the people we have become as a result. Our vision, mission and strategic aims are underpinned by our or- ganisational values which are informed by recovery principles: Hope: recovery is a process of building and reinforcing hope Compassion: we are all survivors of life and recovery begins with compassion Courage: to stand up for recovery principles and to hear and learn from those who disagree with us Since definitions of recovery can be very personal, and often are, the title means different things to different people. Philosophically SRN has bridged the gap between the general (what applies to everyone) and the personal (YOUR experience) by underpinning our work with the CHIME framework. CHIME is not a definition, nor is it a set of instructions for recovery. It is a description of five key domains within which recovery is possible. The domains are neither equal nor dominant but their combination are known to support an individual recovery journey. The CHIME framework supports our strategic intentions in the following ways:

Page 12 Celebrating RecoveryConnectedness Relationships are core to recovery and the work of the SRN team.Good relationships are honest, reflective, appreciative, supportive and kind.Hope and Optimism We have seen and effected change. We know it can happen andwe know that our vision will become a reality. This is not a forlorn hope, but hope witha purpose.Identity Distress is a universal experience, although the impacts on individuals can vary.Stigma is the common barrier. We value those who are able to talk about theirexperience to help others and to inform policy and practice. We value those for whomsuch openness is not currently possible and work for a society where it is.Meaning and Purpose Having a purposeful life and being respected by others can bekey to wellbeing. The work of SRN aims to create an environment where livedexperience is valued equally with professional knowledge.Empowerment Taking control of ones life, however that is done and to whatever ex-tent, is a key to unlocking recovery.

Page 13 Celebrating Recovery Service User Perspectives on Recovery in Mental Health What are the key features of Recovery for service users? • To be treated with dignity, respect and compassion. See the person, not the diagnosis • To be treated as a capable citizen who can make choices and take con- trol of their life. Lived experience is valued • Active listening is used and support offered in decision making. The use of co-production • Be guided by the service users views about what they need and what helps them. Focus on strengths. • To be given information needed for the service user to make their own decisions and choices. • Hope and optimism are paramount. • Use the correct communication strategy. • Be mindful that mental health services are only part of a person's re- covery. • Support the role of carers, and friends. • Challenge discrimination and inequality. • Encourage positive risk taking. • Acknowledge that the Recovery journey may not be a smooth one. • The professional is true to their word. Doing what they say they are going to do. If this is not possible then apologise. • Best not to spring any surprises that may affect the service user. Gwyneth Statham Service User Trainer Recovery Perspectives

Page 14 Celebrating Recovery Recovery Voices During the day a number of videos were shown made by service users telling their own stories and experiences in their own words these were both moving and inspirational. Here are some of their stories. Tracey—I am a 42 yr old woman I have a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia I received this diagnosis in spring 2002 if I had no immediate family member with this illness then there would have been a 90% chance of not developing this illness, as I have 2 close family members this chance decreased so no matter what angle you look at it from I was unlucky - I have a high genetic load. I want to tell to tell those who work in the mental health system and service users what it really means to have a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia and recovery. My first dilemma was accepting my diagnosis then finding the right medication - they go hand in hand. I wanted to stop the cycle of illness and being placed on new medication and all that entails it was a light bulb moment for me - my medication has taken approx 14 - 15 years to sort out if someone would have said to me all those years ago it would take this long to sort out I would not have believed them. Recovery for me starts with the right medication and then trying to pick up from where I left off with various aspects of my life. Finding 4winds drop in has really contributed to my recovery and helped me to regain good mental health. 4winds has got me interested in life again and had encouraged me to attend training courses. Long term I actually hope to return back into work but I feel a bit unsure as to what kind of work I would like to do in the future. Having a mental health condition and going through the mental health system can make you very confused about what you want to do with your life but as I slowly regain control I will probably work out what I want to spend the rest of my life doing 4winds will help me do this. Darren- Its not easy I need to be accepted for who I am I need people to show that they are comfortable with me as much as I am comfortable with them. I need people to be on my side to help me get through some of the obstacles I need support from other people like talking listening asking questions to see who I am and help guide me through a little bit.

Page 15 Celebrating Recovery Recovery Voices My name is Sarah and this is my story. I was adopted when I was about 15 months old. Before that I’d been moved around different foster homes. Everyone I started to love left me in the end so I didn’t develop normal feelings or emotions. I was terrified that if I did the wrong thing or said the wrong thing I would be sent away; so I had to be the perfect child. I didn't have any of the normal tantrums; I just existed in a way to please other people and I lived most of my life that way. When I was about 35 I did a self help course with some other people. You had to tick the boxes of areas of your life that were difficult and needed help sorting out. Most of my friends ticked 2 or 3 of the boxes and I ticked nearly all of them! I started to realise that most people didn't worry continually about what they were going to say they didn't worry about saying the right thing or saying what other people wanted to hear. They just said what they thought or felt but I couldn't; I was too afraid. The fear and the loneliness and the emptiness was just unbearable so I decided to go for counselling. It was like a bomb just exploded in my life and everything was de- stroyed. I felt everything bad that had happened which I had mostly forgotten suddenly came back to me I remembered everything all in one go and it was just too much. I felt destroyed and stupid; I felt cheated of life and I felt angry. However I couldn't be angry at the people who hurt me. I could only be angry at myself and took it out on myself to control the emotions I had never felt before.I started drinking and self harming. It was a way of self medication really. I ended up in and out of A and E and I got in trouble with the police. Sometimes they would take me in for my own safety. It was part of my self harm ritual really - I’d kick and scream and make things diffi- cult for myself. I’d see the Crisis Team; sometimes they'd end up sending me into hospital on a mental health ward. On other occasions they wouldn't. It made no sense to me even though I felt the same each time; why was the outcome so different? I ended up making myself homeless; there were many problems that came with that. I spent three months living at the YMCA. Eventually I got into supported accommodation. Suddenly I got the support and reassurance I needed.

Page 16 Celebrating Recovery Recovery Voices As a toddler you are told ‘well done’ when you do things right and should be helped when you do things wrong. You are guided. That was what supported accommodation was like for me. It was a chance for me to talk and a chance for me to learn how to express myself. I was helped to be honest to people and to say what was really going on in my head and not having to worry about it. I had an opportunity to go on to a Dialectical Behavioural Therapy course - what a mouthful ! But it actually gave me the tools to start being able to talk and tell people how I really felt and helped me to understand my emotions to be able to describe them and also to start to be able to control them. I’d also been going to a homeless shelter - I started going there when I was in the YMCA. I became involved with the choir there which had just started up. I sort of just took over! If some- one had told me I’d end up leading a choir of 20 people, standing in front of them and inspiring them I’d have told them not to be so stupid! Amazingly I actually found I could do it. It was fun and the satis- faction of seeing other people's confidence grow and my own confidence grow has really helped my recovery. I have discovered a place I can go if I’m feeling low. Being there cheers me up and it's something really special; they are like ….. like a family to me. Margaret The story you are about to hear is true it is the story of my life. I had a son, when he was a year old I couldn't cope anymore, one night he kept crying and crying and crying and it got to such a stage that I almost threw him against the wall. The next day I asked social services to look after him for me for a little while. 5 Years ago I learned that he had been adopted and I did not know. If a woman has mental ill health or learning disability their children can be taken away as they say they are unsafe with them - this is a lie. I am now in contact with my son he is a fantastic young man. Please do not take children into care from mothers because it is very very distressing, there have been quite a few parents who have committed suicide because their children have been taken away from them. Yes they need help but not their children taken away, give them parenting skills, show them how to cope when they are losing their grip, let them pick the phone up and ask for help and then come round and help not just take their kids away from them.

Page 17 Celebrating Recovery Discussion Groups Three discussion groups were held during the day, with 9 smaller groups contributing to each question. This is a summary of the responses. A more detailed document is available on the CAVAMH website www.cavamh.org.uk 1. Recovery What Works Well Social opportunities • To socialise • Learn new skills • Time to talk • Collaboration • People there for support Person centred support /bespoke services • Goal setting • Signposting • Range of options & choices • Respect • Being heard • Supporting people to take positive risks • Flexible services • Community based courses, activities and groups • Care and Treatment Plan has 8 areas of life • Working with families • Improvement in service for people in prison There was a consensus on the value of voluntary sector organisations but concerns regarding sustainable funding.

Page 18 Celebrating Recovery Discussion Groups - continued Training and collaboration- service user led/involvement • Service user involvement in training • Some services work collaboratively and are empowerment based • Peer support workers 2. What doesn’t work so well and why? Not being person centred • Care and Treatment Plans not working- only one domain needs to be met. One group stated “there is no collaboration in creating care plans and they are forgotten about as soon as they are made. They are not updated and not shared across service providers” It should be noted that some people reported that they had care and treatment plans which met their needs and worked well however the majority were reporting lack of collaboration in the process. • Staff not aware/taking account of the holistic picture- how things interact • Frequency of review/chance to discuss issues • Help only at a crisis/difficulty asking for help/how to help people who don’t want help • Outpatients not recovery focused • Commissioned services outside of NHS not recovery focused- hold on to their service users Services & structure • Post code lottery of mental health provision • MH services not consistent across the Cardiff and Vale • Access to appropriate service sometimes dependent on knowledge of GP • Most services only available during office hours and weekdays. More flexibility needed • Dual diagnosis, still a sense that “people are being bounced back and forth”. Clear guidelines needed

Page 19 Celebrating Recovery • Better discharge planning, a gradual rather than sudden withdrawal of services to empower people (and not to cause panic) Some good local examples given of individuals experiences with a key worker. • Need for more places for service users to meet informally for peer support • Better tracking of progress in recovery needed • Sometimes people just want to talk to someone but the simplest op- tion does not seem to be available when people need it, particularly during the weekend and at night • Police need better training and more interactions with service users so they could get a better understanding of what is it like to live with mental health issues • Context- Awareness of current economic environment& impact on service users and carers • Reduction in 3rd sector service leads to increase in benefit cuts, homelessness, lack of services for different groups, as services cut i.e. advice services, asylum seekers agencies increasingly supporting people with basic human needs Lack of Communication • Liaison/Services not aligned- e.g. GP/Community Mental Health Team, dual diagnosis, liaison with housing, transitions- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services to Primary Mental Health Ser- vices. • Need clear aims at all levels of service • Promote charter more with all organisations (and what do people do if they feel it is not being met?) • Carers raised concerns regarding the conflict between patient confi- dentiality and consent and their need to be involved in discussions . At a minimum, they would like to be listened to by staff. • Better communication needed between statutory teams, 3rd sector, service users and carers

Page 20 Celebrating Recovery Discussion Groups - continued Resources • Lack of or short term funding – leading to waiting lists/projects come & go. • Need more staff training, also user led and to tackle stigma • Significant lack of suitable accommodation, particularly for homeless people with mental health issues • Need for better signposting to resources • Look to the person’s network as a resource. friends and family can help 3. Issues , gaps and priorities • Better communication needed • See person holistically • Joining up services, team approach • More/better signposting • Better relationships alignment between departments- services inter- nally focused/no clear pathways/between statutory& social sector • Different expectations between staff and disciplines/sectors- Bring- ing people & services together to share ideas • Information for service users/carers- know your rights • A protocol to share info about different services/opportunities • More information about the range of services to be made available to service users and carers e.g. the CAVAMH Directory • People often have to repeat their circumstances. Could there be a more integrated recording system for professionals? Greater valuing of lived experience • Value lived experience & role of carers and use people’s stories to influence service development • Value of peer support • Greater valuing of staff • Staff be more aware of the values of their role- less defensive • Employ culturally aware staff

Page 21 Celebrating Recovery Prevention/early intervention • Reaching people not able to ask for help / marginalised groups • No early intervention/ access at the right time to make a difference • Gaps between primary/secondary care, dual diagnosis, housing, • More accessible services, weekends, evenings, 24/7, / more routes or pathways into services • More support after diagnosis • Recovery understanding, training and MH awareness • Develop a shared understanding of recovery- services being in re- covery - rethink/refresh periodically • Mental Health awareness and recovery training for primary/front line staff/ wider staff & public- e.g. coroners, police, service users & carers • Programme to promote Charter for Mental health • Ways of implementing recovery- how to work in a recovery focused way Better Recovery practice • Support into work • More effective monitoring & evaluation of outcomes collec- tively/tracking individual progress • In discharge planning • More choices & options • Sharing & learning post diagnosis • Mutual & peer support

Page 22 Celebrating Recovery Summary And Key Themes Summary – key theme • Fight stigma • Meeting individual’s needs at whatever point they enter the service (a person centred approach) • Peer Support workers highlighted as being very valued and having a significant impact • Need to continue to promote the Mental Health Charter (with service users carers and staff) such as joint training and to develop tools to implement the recovery ethos • Improve communication e.g. each service to provide some basic in- formation about the service such as what would happen during the visit and signpost to other agencies and services (or provide leaflets). Information to include how to give compliments, raise concerns and how to make a complaint • Community services and activities such as counseling and CBT can be very effective but there is a high demand and often time limited • Peer support is invaluable, we need to find more ways to enable this to take place in a safe and supportive environment • Significant amount of anecdotal evidence that care and treatment plans were not being co-produced, were not reviewed often enough and some people stated they did not have one • Anecdotal evidence of people being “discharged” due to non atten- dance of appointments. Time spent finding out why and contacting person, carer or GP could reduce the possibility of worsening mental health

Page 23 Celebrating Recovery What has been achieved by Service Users since the launch of the Recovery Charter? • The Charter for Mental Health has been advertised in all settings • A Recovery Leaflet promoting the Charter and ethos has been developed and distributed service users were represented on the Communication Group who developed the leaflet. This was a sub committee of the Recovery Steering Group - which also has service user representation. • Cardiff and Vale UHB have trained and employed peer support workers • Service users as Reps on Committees and Groups both for the Health Board and other organisations. The inclusion of the service user voice is important. It can improve self confidence and self esteem – doing something that can make a difference. • Service user involvement in teaching e.g. the Doctoral Programme in Clinical Psychology • Recovery training for staff working in mental health e.g. a series of 11 workshops each one facilitated by 2 service users • Recovery in Mental Health sessions for service users, usually facilitated by two service users • Care and Treatment Planning training for service users, again facilitated by two service users • Service users – establishing themselves as ‘Recovery Perspectives’- have developed and implemented recovery training for staff in the statutory and third sector and also living well with mental ill health training for service users • The involvement of service users and carers across organizations has been mapped • Developments within services reflecting recovery principles have been collated - see booklet on local recovery good practice for some examples available at www.cavamh.org.uk

Page 24 Celebrating Recovery What has been achieved by Service Users since the launch of the Recovery Charter? Service user and carer views on services have been gathered through the bi-annual ‘Feedback Fortnight’, along with further focus groups and surveys, with key themes debated and actions taken for- ward, from the multi stakeholder Mental Health Partnership Board. These have included: • Crisis Services - ‘How to Access Help in a Crisis’ leaflet – available on line at www.cavamh.org.uk • A Crisis leaflet for carers produced by Hafal • Care and Treatment Planning - Operational Planning Group and training • Eating Disorders Services - Regular newsletters – see on line at www cardiffandvaleuhb.wales.nhs.uk/shed-newsletters/ • Psychological Therapies - feedback used in Cardiff and Vale UHB Psychological Therapies Review • Young Peoples’ Services - Join the Dots set up to support young people’s involvement information shared with planners and providers • Equalities: Perspectives shared for example, from refugees/male carers/learning disabilities, heightening awareness • Communities and Mental Health & Wellbeing – information shared about what works and how it can be accessed • Primary Mental Health Support and GP liaison- information shared about what works and gaps in provision • Insights – perspectives on what is a ‘therapeutic relationship’ Besides this, a host of services, projects and changes have been introduced and reviewed, with initiatives led by planners, staff and people and carers using services

Page 25 Celebrating Recovery Everyone’s Having a selection of recovery is unique options, feeling Walk the talk! acknowledged, my support worker gives me confidenceIts good to have Talking about Supportconsistency with mental health and people in people you see defining their recovery is own goals More services important for accessible, earlier in bringing about Fight someone’s journey. Stigma! change Services sharing knowledge Time to talk most important, GPs so There is more to be busy can’t always done but progress is know right support being made Having specific people I can go to for help- like having a friend

Page 26 Celebrating Recovery Final Summation We hope this Magazine in some ways reflects not only the positive experience of those who attended the Recovery Event itself but as a broad celebration of a trend within the Mental Health Field to establish and grow the ethos of Recovery locally and nationally. Trends can come and go; the challenge for all of us who care about Recovery and individual growth is that this particular trend is not a fly by night phenomenon but a shared idea and belief that will run as vein throughout all Services, Organisations and Individuals in the field.. It is not just Services and Organisations we want to adopt the ethos of Recovery. Policies can easily be written and sound worthy and convincing; but is the ethos filtering down into actual practice? Our goal must be that the philosophy of Recovery permeates the practice, values and beliefs of all who work in the field. Recovery as an ethos should not be merely an optional extra employed occasion- ally by Practitioners. Ultimately it should be a given that we should expect the values of Recovery and the Principles of the Charter to be practiced throughout the Mental Health Field as routine. The Participants and Partners recognise that we are on a journey and with most memorable journeys there are times of greater and lesser progress towards the ultimate destination. On any journey batteries need to be re-charged and The Celebrating Recovery Event was a memorable and sustaining pit stop along the way.

Page 27 Celebrating Recovery