Authors: Paul Grima & William Moon, VIC
Year: 2004
Event: 2004 TheMHS Conference
Subject: Changing Paths to Recovery
Type of resource: Conference Presentations and Papers
ISBN: 0975765302
Abstract: This presentation describes an innovative consumer peer support initiative within the Sunshine Adult Acute Psychiatric Unit in Victoria, and initial anecdotal staff and consumer responses to this program. Since May 2003 SAAPU has had a Consumer Consultant on the clinical staff team who is responsible for providing peer and motivational support to consumers, working mainly with individuals and to a lesser extent with groups. In addition, this person presents the ‘consumer perspective’ in clinical meetings. Responses from staff (allied health, nursing and medical), consumers and carers have been invariably positive The individual peer support has been identified as uniquely helpful to recovery and formulation of a positive personal identity, acceptance, self image - and Hope.
To paraphrase a consumer’s comment: medication, other treatment and psychosocial interventions are all part of the solution for many people but the ‘circle is not complete” until hope is reborn.
“The miserable have no other medicine
But only hope.”
William Shakespeare, Measure for Measure
If you lose hope, somehow you lose the vitality that keeps life moving, you lose that courage to be, that quality that helps you go on in spite of it all. And so today I still have a dream.
Martin Luther King, jr, The Trumpet of Conscience
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