Attachment A Guiding Principles

							Attachment ‘A’ GUIDING PRINCIPLES

Mental Health System of Care

Attachment A – Page 1

Guiding Principles

All persons have the potential to recover from mental health and/or substance conditions. Recovery values and principles are important and valuable for adults, adolescents and children.

Guiding Principles
Principle One As a Consumer I direct my own recovery process based on my life story, hopes, goals and plans for the future. My journey to recovery is as unique as I am. I would like my individual differences considered and valued during the time that I am receiving mental health services. Principle Two My mental health partners must be aware of a tendency to enable and encourage dependency. I request that my mental health partners help me avoid dependency. Principle Three My Recovery is ultimately a self-managed approach to wellness that is anchored in my personal peer and community supports. Principle Four As a Consumer, I will recover more quickly when: My hope is encouraged, enhanced, and/or maintained My life plans and activities include meaningful work or employment Spirituality is considered in a way that is acceptable to me My culture is understood and respected My social needs are recognized, identified and supported My educational needs are identified, including the needs of my family/significant others My values are recognized and respected Recovery is most effective when a holistic approach is used. Principle Five I can recover with or without complete relief from symptoms~ I understand that I can recover even though the illness has not been "cured."

Mental Health System of Care

Attachment A – Page 2

Guiding Principles

Principle Six My Recovery Plan may or may not include the use of medications, my decision can be made when I receive information on medications in an informed manner. My medication plans must include plans for the addition, change or deletion of medications depending on the effectiveness of my most current plan. Principle Seven The mental health partners who assist me use best practices based on a recovery vision. There is a need to merge all interventions models including Medical, Psychological, Social, Rehabilitation and Recovery. Best practices are based on my strengths and assets. Principle Eight I would like my mental health partners to initially emphasize "hope" and demonstrate an ability to develop a trusting relationships with me as an individual. Please do not assume a relationship. Build a relationship with me by listening to my values, my story and my plans. Principle Nine My mental health partners collaborate with me in developing a recovery management plan based on my needs and focused on interventions and activities that will facilitate my recovery and will include all the resources, including such things as employment services, safe and affordable housing, education and awareness, mental health treatment, self-help and peer support services, and other supports, that will assist me in obtaining and maintaining independence at a level that I can achieve. Principle Ten I recognize that my recovery is my responsibility and I will assist my mental health partners by sharing my thoughts, feelings and concerns. I will give serious consideration to my mental health partners ideas and guidance. Principle Eleven My family may or may not be helpful in my recovery .I will discuss with my mental health partners what involvement my family can have in my recovery plans. I may need assistance in repairing family and community relationships. I may have a unique definition of my family unit.

Mental Health System of Care

Attachment A – Page 3

Guiding Principles

Principle Twelve I am an individual, I am not my mental illness. Do not lose track of the person behind the diagnosis. I may make mistakes. Some of my thoughts, feelings and behaviors are part of being a human being and not always a part of my mental illness. See me as the unique individual that I am.

Mental Health System of Care

Attachment A – Page 4

Guiding Principles