V A NVancouver C O U V E R CCommunity OMMUNITY Mental Health M E N T A L H E A L T H Services SERVICES
Recovery Newsletter V O L U M E
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J A N U A R Y
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Celebrating Recovery Together
Hope Goal-Directed SelfDetermination Awareness & Potentiality Meaning & Purpose
INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Conference Review
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Session Review
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Contest
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Conference Feedback
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Recovery Dialogues
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Future Directions
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Your Quotes
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On Thursday, May 15th, 2008 many of you joined us for the “Celebrating Recovery Together” full day conference. But before we get too ahead of ourselves, some of you may be wondering: how did we get to this recovery philosophy? Well, in 1997, Greater Vancouver Mental Health Services
released a strategic plan: Recovery Through Participation with a focus on recovery. In 2006, The Path Ahead – An Operational Plan for VCMHS was compiled to provide a road map for how we, at Vancouver Community Mental Health Services (VCMHS) would incorporate the recovery philosophy into our
service delivery. In order to develop a common understanding of the “recovery” philosophy; we held a 2 day workshop in 2007 for all of our staff. The feedback from this 2 day workshop helped us develop the ‘next steps’ in implementing this philosophy—which includes hosting this conference.
Quick Review of the Conference Just in case you missed the conference, a quick recap of what was covered: Celebrating Recovery Together reviewed the main aims of the philosophy of Recovery by incorporating the elements of a recovery culture: Hope (a belief that recovery is possible); Goal-directed (focuses on the individual first and foremost as an individual with strengths, talents, interests as well as limitations; culturally
appropriate services); Self-determination (the right of the individual to make choices in their care and recovery); Awareness and Potentiality (people need to make sense of what has happened to them in order to change and meet their potential); Meaning and Purpose (people have the potential to grow and recover; people can have purpose in their lives). As service providers, many of you
probably recognize that you are already doing this work on a practical level. “This conference was a great way to unify community mental health Hope services. VCMHS “staff” day with consumers and Goal-Directed family is so valuable! Speakers were great and Self-Determination provocative. Gave ideas on how to & improve serAwareness Potentiality vices however the panels Meaning & Purpose brought voices or reality to the topics”
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Quick Review of the Conference ... What did the day look like?
“The guest speakers were excellent but the panel member participation really added greater value to the
Well, we were welcomed by Sri Pendakur (Professional Practice Lead, Adult Mental Health Services). Maureen Whyte (Chief Operating Officer) & Lorna Howes (Director, Vancouver
Mental Health Acute and Community) provided opening remarks. Four sessions followed with 3 key note speakers: Steven Onken; Maggie BenningtonDavis and Amy Long and 12 Vancouver Coastal Health panelists. Thank you to all
of you who attended the day long session. We also wanted to acknowledge Key Note your Speakers participation in all of the ‘recovery’ spaces Steven Onken … from client care to being involved with Maggie Benningtonthe variousDavis ways to implement this philosophy! Thank you! Amy Long
Session I with Steven Onken Steven Onken presented the recovery conceptual framework and provided some observations about our system. Steven discussed several themes in the recovery philosophy, from person centered elements, intentional in-
terviewing, moving from burdenhood to personhood, healing relationships, peer to peer connections and vital engagement. Jan Ashdown (Co-ordinator for Consumer Involvement and Initiatives), Joan Nazif
(Chair of Family Advisory Committee) & Neleena Popatia (Team Director of Midtown Mental Health Team) served as Vancouver Coastal Health Panelists.
discussions”
Session II with Maggie Bennington-Davis All throughout the newsletter, you will find quotes that you shared with us in your feedback surveys.
RECOVERY
For session 2, Maggie Bennington-Davis discussed neurobiology of trauma and mental health while Debbie Sesula (Coordinator for the Peer Support Program), Marge Johnson (Member of the Family Advisory Committee) and Peter Gibson (Team Physician) served as our Vancouver NEWSLETTER
Coastal Health panelists. Maggie opened her discussion around how we ask questions safely – rather than asking: “What is wrong with you?”, as “What happened to you?”. A research project by Fellitti & Anda (1998), the Adverse Childhood Experiences Study (ACES) looked at the impact of
how childhood trauma effects one’s life and found that 60% of the 18,000 participants had experienced an adverse childhood experience (ranging from psychological abuse to sexual abuse). Maggie’s presentation really highlighted the prevalence of trauma and the importance of acknowledging this in our care delivery.
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Session III with Amy Long Amy Long presented Shared decision making and risk taking during session 3. Susanne Hawkins (Senior Mental Health
Worker, Northeast Mental Health Team); Jane Duval (Member of the Family Advisory Committee) and Renea Mohammed
(Coordinator of the Peer Support Program) served as our Vancouver Coastal Health panelists. Hope
Contest: Help us Name the Newsletter!
Goal Directed Awareness Recovery
This initial newsletter is titled the recovery newsletter … but we were hoping for a snappier title … and we are hoping to have your help with this! How can you help? Brainstorm some ideas & send them into Renea Moham-
med. Renea will collect all of your submissions and then the Recovery Task Force will vote for the name that best represents this newsletter! If your suggestion is selected, you will win a $ 100 gift basket from Capers!
Please email Renea the following information: Name: ______________ Phone: ______________ Email: _______________ Ideas: _______________
Resilience Strength Courage Potential Meaning Purpose
Renea.Mohammed@vch.ca
Final Session with all of the Key Note Speakers … The final session was led by all three key note speakers: Steve Onken, Maggie Bennington-Davis and Amy Long. The 3 presenters spoke to the topic: Nothing about us with-
out us. The Vancouver Coastal Health panelists were Jude Swanson (Peer support worker with the Kitsilano-Fairview Mental Health Team), Eufemia
Fantetti (Member of the Family Advisory Committee) and Regina Casey (the Occupational Therapist for the Westside Mental Health Team).
Some of your comments about the conference … “I enjoyed the areas of knowledge such as trauma, and what is happening in other places to get ideas, but felt there was a little too much “feel good stuff”. What I mean by this is that whilst the positive is needed, the stories of how we can practically implement these concepts are more helpful! Overall I felt it was a useful day and appreciated the opportunity to mix with other colleagues” “Excited about the shared planning and risk taking. However, the management and the system have to better support the staff. The staff now bears all the responsibilities when things go wrong”
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After a successful day long session, we asked for your feedback and here is what you said …
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Feedback about the Conference ... Who came to the Celebrating Recovery session? We had a great turn out! 450 people attended the session and we received
members, Physicians and reps from non profit organizations. Thank you to all of you for participating in this session!
W hat was the over all impr es s ion of the Celebr ating Recover y Together confer ence?
What was the overall impression of the Celebrating Recovery Together conference? Response
Number of Responses
Percentage
Response
Number of Responses
Percentage
Positive Negative
1952
89 % 0.91 %
Neutral Negative
2 13
0.915.93 % %
Other Neutral
13 5
5.932.28 % %
Mixed Responses Other
5 3
2.281.37 % %
Missing Mixed Responses
3 1
1.370.46% %
Positive
“It was genuine compassion for others that resonated throughout the day. The day was very powerful and meaningful. I felt like it re-lit my passion for the work I do.”
219 completed survey forms! We had a diverse range of colleagues attending this session: VCMHS staff, Peers Support Workers, Family Advisory
195
89 %
Missing 1 0.46% Some of the “other” impressions were: “Excellent”; “Lovely, inspiring but way Some the “other” impressions were: “Excellent”; “Lovely, but tooof“motherhood”. Right now recovery certainly has heardinspiring and head, butway we need tooto“motherhood”. Right now recovery certainly has heart and head, but we give it legs and this involves much more pragmatic conversations”; “Waste of need to give it legs and this involves much more pragmatic conversations”; resources”. “Waste of resources”. With a 195 of the of you responding favorably (89%), recognize your supWith a 195 of the 219219 of you responding favorably (89%), we we recognize your port and the value of moving ahead with the goal of recovery for Vancouver support and the value of moving ahead with the goal of recovery for VancouverCommunity Mental Community MentalHealth HealthServices. Services.We Wealso alsoclearly clearlyrecognize recognizethe theamazing amazingwork workthat you already do that is in line with the recovery philosophy! Thank you! that you already do that is in line with the recovery philosophy! Thank you!
We also wanted to know what was the most valuable part of the conference for you … “Like the idea of recovery/ resilience model – many of us struggle to “recover” and the term often leaves us feeling like we are failing at recovering. “Resilience” shows how courageous and hard working we are, despite getting well.”
RECOVERY
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“Hearing the real life examples from clients and mental health workers – the challenges that both face and how we can work collaboratively and the importance of relationships, hope and inspiration!”
“Some key concepts were very important: interdependence vs independence, need to identify & eliminate micro-aggressions, resiliency as something to acknowledge & build on, positive value of family involvement, build up traumasensitive culture”
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Different Learning Styles ... Because there are so many different learning styles, we asked you if the speaker format was an effective way of presenting the information … Having speakers present can be a valuable way of delivering a diverse range of information to a large group of individuals. We were hoping that this was the best way to share information with all of you and fortunately, most of you (87%) found this format to be effective. We also asked you to explain why this
format was not effective. Although most of the attendees enjoyed the presentations, many of you felt that there was no opportunity to engage with the panelists or have a dialogue. Some of the suggestions for future conferences included incorporating a question and answer period, allow for more of an interactive session,
discuss the challenges in implementing the recovery framework into daily practice, acknowledge how the recovery model is already being used by mental health practitioners and allow for small group activities/workshops.
How did you like the speaker format? Response
Number of Responses
Percentage
Yes
191
87%
No
17
7.8%
Yes & No
6
2.7%
Missing
5
2.3%
Total Responses: 219
Some of your feedback about the speaker format ... “Another way could have the speakers - is to have a structured conversation at 3 tables on a topic & generate spontaneous thoughts about how to best incorporate the information into practice. The panel presentations were great but it was a lot of information to process in addition to presentations.”
“I think the time for panel discussion would have been better used answering some of the delegates’ questions. The format used for answering speaker’s questions was too impersonal and doesn’t really allow staff or consumers the opportunity to really hear from the speakers”
“An inability for the audience to provide direct feedback &/or engage in active discussion seems juxtaposed to the concept of collaboration. I felt talked at with little acknowledgment re: how I am already utilizing the recovery model.”
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Recovery Dialogues ... To promote a dialogue about “recovery” within VCMHS, we have been facilitating “Recovery Dialogues”. We have 3 more scheduled and would like to invite you to attend! January 8, 2009: Self-Determination February 12, 2009: Awareness & Potentiality March 12, 2009: Meaning & Purpose All sessions will be held from12:00 to 1:30 @ Raven Song For more information & to RSVP please call Shirley Rogers at 604.708.5288 or email her at shirley.rogers@vch.ca.
A little bit about the speakers …
Steve Onken “There was a lot of
“Bringing to the
“A lovely, gentle &
‘language’ that felt
mental health sys-
kind-hearted man here
useful, trauma in-
tem how important
to remind us of the ba-
“I liked him
formed, people
recovery is. Alter-
sics. I think the current
[Steve]
don’t recover in co-
native to hospitals
system needs to be
speaking from
ercive environ-
and treatment.
challenged with
the heart. He
ments, it’s not
Friends make re-
respect to the real bar-
was brave
what’s wrong but
covery possible, re-
riers which include a
enough to show
what happened to
covery requires re-
health care system
his emotions.
you & or with you. I
spect, resilience and that is on the verge of
This is very
appreciated the
recovery”
important in
bowl story & having
litical system that can-
the mental
female pronouns at
not acknowledge this”
health system”
least half the time”
falling apart and a po-
“Reinforced the importance of listening/giving choices/instilling hope and having faith” RECOVERY
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Maggie Bennington-Davis “When I was a case manager/ therapist we were discouraged from encouraging clients to talk about trauma for fear of triggering decompensation. This topic would have benefited from a layer of discussion”
“Excellent: the only useful part. I wish she would have given a second lecture to describe some of the actual programs tried at her unit”
“Always remembering that neurological deficits can be healed because the brain groups and changes with the right set of stimuli”
“A very good review. It is frightening to think that there might be people in the room that do not already know this material. Community resources addressing trauma are woefully inadequate (e.g. a 1 year waiting list at VISACS, no psychiatrists available to do psychotherapy). If people are going to graduate from the team, they need these other resources to be there to help with the next steps”
Amy Long “Confirms my concern of how the vast majority good connection with the cliclients are coming from. To informs or helps to tell ent. Compassion, yet giving an enable clients to recognize “the story”/ “paint a picimage of who they could be. their strengths and use those ture.” [It] seems we are moving away from the Highlighting resiliency, building strengths to achieve their client-centered approach a network outside of consumgoals”. in order to accommoers too, & healthy interdepend- “She gave me my “spark date the needs and requests of “the system.” ence vs independence” back” and reminds me why I There is little time to do “Inspiring, helpful in reminding do what I do—for consumers the work we really need to do. We need to slow us to recognize the humanity & hope & goals & success. things down or increase of people who also have illShe embodies the process” staff. Less time to case ness” conference, an invaluable practice” “The importance of making a
“To remember where my
We would like to hear from you! Do you have any topic suggestions for us to include in the recovery Vancouver Community Mental Health Services 200– 520 West 6th Avenue Vancouver, BC
This premier issue has been authored by H. Bindy K. Kang (Cross Cultural Mental Health Worker) and Sri Pendakur (Professional Practice Lead of Adult Mental Health Services).
newsletter? If you do, we would appreciate your suggestions. Also, we would like to invite you to contribute to the newsletter with brief articles highlighting your successes and challenges around ‘recovery’ implementation. Please contact Renea Mohammed at Renea.Mohammed@vch.ca or 604.708.5274
Where do we go from here? We have a recovery task group working on different initiatives to specifically develop a work/action plan. As many of you have mentioned, the word “recovery” is a challenging term that has many different meanings. “Recovery” has a connotation of gradual healing after an illness with an end result of regaining or saving something lost. In order to make this meaningful for Child & Youth and Older Adult programs; we have adopted three words – Recovery, Resilience and Respect. Also, developing culturally competent recovery applications needs to be addressed within the recovery model.
Current projects underway: Orientation package for clients and their families around recovery Implementing the Client Directed Outcome Instrument (CDO) (which will be piloted at three of our mental health teams) Monthly “recovery” dialogues have started. We welcome you to join these monthly dialogues and share your voices and experiences.
Thank you for your feedback! It has been invaluable to receive your feedback through these surveys. The ‘recovery’ frame work is still a work in progress but as many of you have mentioned, it highlights our commitment to compassionate and responsible care. We look forward to continuing to engage with this model to better inform our care practices.
”This was a very inspiring conference and a great gift to us all. Our clients will benefit from the renewed energy and passion we will bring to our work. Let’s do this every year!” “I would have liked more time to discuss how you actually get “there”. We are working towards these goals. I would have liked a chance to hear about the ways to overcome the barriers and the nuts and bolts of implementing these changes”