Recovery Online Toolkit
Good Practice Examples: Recovery Case Studies
The following initiatives demonstrate good practice in recovery for people with a mental illness. They have been selected so as to represent a range of locations, settings, sectors and population groups. These initiatives have provided information about their aims, objectives, infrastructure, implementation and outcomes. Where possible links have been provided to resources that have been developed or used. This material has been collected and collated in 2006
All initiatives reflect the principles outlined in the “Pathways of Recovery” document with a focus on the ‘4As’ of Awareness, Anticipation, Alternatives and Access. (*see bottom of screen for more information)
For detailed information about each of the initiatives click on the project name...
| Name and Organisation | Location | Brief Description | Main Setting |
Target Group |
|
AIMhi: Top End Mental Health Service |
NT | Aims to improve mental health outcomes for indigenous people living in remote areas in the NT. It targets people with chronic mental illness, their families, service providers, and the broader community. | Clinical | Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander consumers. |
| Adolescent Day Services: Adolescent Services Enfield Campus | SA | Provides tertiary services to young people with significant mental health issues. Therapeutic programs focus on supporting positive behaviours, self-awareness and expression of feelings, relationships, life skills and social skills. | Clinical | Youth consumers. |
| Collaborative Recovery: Illawarra Institute for Mental Health and Uni of Qld. | NSW, QLD, VIC, SA | Education and support for mental health clinicians and support workers. The aim of the research project is to evaluate the impact of the Collaborative Recovery Training Programme on mental health clinicians' recovery oriented practices and the benefits for consumers with whom they work. | Clinical | Mental health service providers. |
| Collaborative Therapy: Mental Health Research Inst. of Vic. & Mental Health ACT. |
ACT |
A comprehensive therapeutic framework for consumers, clinicians, services and others to work systematically towards the achievement of optimal health outcomes. | Clinical | Service providers; consumers. |
| Discharge Planning Pilot : St. Lukes, Bendigo | VIC | A comprehensive service model aimed at delivering a seamless, integrated and collaborative approach to meetng the complex needs of people with a mental illness who are homeless or at risk or homelessness. |
NGO |
Rural & remote; homeless; consumers. |
| Hospital to Home Transition Team: Adolescent Services Enfield Campus |
SA | Assists in the maintenance, recovery, development and acquisition of skills for young people aged 12-18 years, who have experienced severe mental health issues including psychosis, anxiety, mood disorders and ongoing suicidal ideation. | Clinical | Youth consumers. |
|
Housing and Accommodation Support Initiative: Centre for Mental Health & NSW Dept for Housing |
NSW |
Assists people with mental health problems to access accommodation, community based support and psychosocial rehabilitation, in an environment of partnership and co-operation across key human service agencies. |
Clinical & NGO | Consumers. |
| Pathways: Mental Health Association of Central Australia | NT | Promotes community reintegration through educational and vocational activities, utilising the existing community resource base.Also aims to reduce stigma and discrimination through improving community mental health literacy. | Mental Health NGO | Consumers inc. Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people. |
| Power to the People: Rehabilitation Services, Mental Health, DHSS | TAS | Provides educational sessions which facilitate the development and understanding of psychosis and mental health, and a range of strategies to assist consumers to manage their illness and enhance recovery. | Clinical | Youth consumers. |
| Stepping Stone: Clubhouse |
QLD | Increasing members’ self-esteem and confidence through breaking down stigma in the wider community, and assisting with integrating members into the work force. | Mental Health NGO | Consumers. |
| Triple Care Farm: Mission Australia | NSW | Residential program for young people with problematic drug or alcohol use, behavioural problems, abuse issues, homelessness, family breakdown, mental illness, or crominal offences. | NGO | Dual diagnosis; youth; consumers. |
| WellWays: Mental Illness Fellowship Victoria | VIC | Peer psycho-educational program for families, carers and friends of people with a mental illness, aimed at increasing the capacity for carers to care for themselves, other family members and their relative living with a mental illness. | Mental Health NGO | Carers. |
| WRAP: Ruah Community Services | WA | Development and delivery of group faciliation skills training for consumers (to enable the delivery of the Wellness Recovery Action Plan); production of associated manuals and promotional materials. | NGO |
Consumers. |
| Yandina: Richmond Fellowship of Vic. | VIC | Transitional support service for men and women who are homeless, or stuck in a cycle of experiencing homelessness, and who have complex needs (difficulties with mental health, alcohol and drug issues, or challenging behaviour). | NGO | Homeless; dual diagnosis; consumers. |
*The '4As' from "Pathways to Recovery" are:
Awareness: involves developing an understanding of one’s mental health needs, including specific knowledge of risk and protective factors. Includes education, stigma reduction
Anticipation: processes which support people who have been seriously affected by mental illness to make their own decisions rather than to have decisions imposed eg: discharge, recovery, crisis plans
Alternatives: recognising the need for an expanded range of treatment and community support options for people who have experienced mental illness eg: housing, employment, holistic treatment.
Access: timely access to the whole range of services that support wellbeing and early intervention in times of increased service need. Includes service collaboration and partnerships.
For more information about the 4As: click here for the summary sheet.
The following papers underpin the 4As framework: