158784 There is more to life than just taking pills: Consumer perspectives on alternative pathways to recovery from severe mental illness

Monday, November 5, 2007: 8:45 AM

Jason Turi, RN, BSN, MPH , Brooklyn ACT Team, Pathways To Housing, Brooklyn, NY
James Fatal , Brooklyn ACT Team, Pathways To Housing, Brooklyn, NY
Jane Whiley , Brooklyn ACT Team, Pathways To Housing, New York, NY
Consumer advocates and peer specialists will discuss the alternatives pathways to recovery available for individuals living with severe mental illness. Presenters will discuss their life and work experiences in confronting issues such as homelessness, substance abuse, poverty, stigmatization, and mental illness. Participants wish to engage in an exchange with other consumer advocates and mental health providers regarding the benefits of incoporating a Housing First and Harm Reduction model in treatment and recovery. Advocating from a rights-based approach to affordable and safe housing, presenters will debate the importance of the mental health consumer movement in giving voice to issues such as scarce housing and decreased funding for entitlements and other basic needs.

Learning Objectives:
1.Discuss the importance of the consumer movement in advocating for improved mental health treatment and outcomes. 2.Describe the "Housing First" model and its link to addressing homelessness and recovery. 3.Identify five components of the harm reduction model in relation to substance abuse.

Keywords: Housing, Recovery

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: Consumer and Family Involvement in Mental Health Treatment Decisions
See more of: Mental Health