I've gotten 2 phone calls today from our community services board. Both have to do with meetings I need to attend where I will be the speaker for those meetings. I am both nervous and excited. The most public speaking I have accomplished in my 47 years has been within the walls of a classroom, or a church group; the latter was years ago when I was much younger. My ability to stand before a group of people nowadays has not been tested in a while.
On January 16, I will be speaking at the Mental Health Substance Abuse and Care Coordination Meeting. What a mouthful! The title of this group is basically the same as the action they take in the community.They coordinate the care of those who have mental illnesses, and/or substance abuse issues.
I will be sharing with this group a little about who I am, and what my purpose will be in the workplace. I will also share a synopsis of the training I received at the grand hotel and conference center, during those two weeks prior to Christmas. By the way, before I hammer on here, I will be attending numerous trainings which follow the first I received. No, I do not think that 2 weeks of training is enough, okay? I say this just in case some are wondering...
The folks who will be attending the meeting on the 16th, know a little about peer support specialists; and they have some idea in mind of the purpose offered by the state of Virginia, to incorporate peer specialists as a means of outreach and advocacy for those who suffer with mental illnesses, and/or substance abuse issues. Thus, the reason for my being there...to tell them more.
The Virgina Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation, and Substance Abuse Services has been working statewide to update its vision for services rendered. Other states are already on board in sharing the vision.
Virginia's statement on the matter is basically this:
it is a collaborative vision of a consumer-driven system of services that supports and promotes, self-determination; empowerment; recovery; resilience; health; and the highest possible level of consumer participation in all aspects of community life.
For the past 25+ years, I have been embracing recovery on my own; however, I have done so while doing everything in my power to refrain from admitting or discussing my own diagnosis because of the stigma that still lurks in the shadows regarding mental health. Now, I will have an opportunity to speak and educate the public about the importance of empowerment for those who are suffering with, or have suffered with mental illness. I will have the opportunity to help rid folks of their ideals and misconceptions of those with mental illnesses, and/or substance abuse issues.
The reason substance abuse is beginning to be incorporated into the mental health system is because as it stands, those who have mental health problems quite often have problems with alcohol and/or drug addiction.
More often than not, the reason mentally ill people also abuse alcohol or other drugs is because they use these drugs to self-medicate.
Not everyone who is an alcoholic or drug addict is mentally ill to start with, however, folks can most certainly acquire mental health disorders as a result of their substance abuse.
Do I think it is a good idea for consumers to take part in their own recovery? Hell yes, I do. Do I think consumers can benefit best from working with others who can identify with their needs? Yes, indeed. Do I think consumers can advocate one for another? Most certainly! The concept of this kind of healing started with the early AA meetings in the 1930s. I am glad to see it is beginning to work for the world of men and women who have mental illnesses; for those who are quite capable of joining other mental health professionals in the system; professionals who, until recently had been the only people paid to work with the mentally ill.
My job is not to be confused with positions of rehabilitation for the mentally ill; whereby some of those positions do nothing more than to further humiliate a person. Though rehabilitation/recovery is a constant among those of us who are dealing with a diagnosis of some sort or other, this is different.This job is one of advocacy and peer guidance for those who are searching for a way to live a productive and full life in their community, the same as anyone else. This is a job requiring the ability to engage others in entertaining the idea that they can have a better life; it requires continued education, experience, and a personal belief in wellness as opposed to illness.
A person with mental illness does recover, with or without professional intervention; with or without medicine; (oh yes) and with or without proper support systems in place. (Think of a cut naturally healing, if left alone long enough) The desire for continued recovery, (because one never arrives) DOES depend upon the aforementioned factors. This is where my job comes in.
However, recovery will happen at some point, and the initial drive toward recovery, I believe, has something to do with the human spirit. Something drives each of us and that drive is different for us all. It is an individual thing. We cannot measure another's path against what we presume is "normal", or what we think a person should be like if they are in a recovery process. There is always more going on within a person than meets the eye. I hope the school systems pick up on this notion someday, but that's a whole 'nother entry.
I know, I know; "enough already" you say. I suppose I am just on fire here. I may be asking you to remind me of this flame a few weeks from now. There are always pitfalls and troubled waters in any new, and potentially good course...that's life.
I will close in sharing this avenue of information (check out Pat Deegan at the bottom of the link; she is now a major idol of mine). And, this treasure of information.
Peace out my sweet blogging buds.
