Recovery Summit 9:  Recovery Around the World

     For the past nine years, customers of mental health services and their families have gathered with mental health professionals to plan the annual Recovery Summit for an 11-county area that includes Belmont, Coshocton, Guernsey, Harrison,  Jefferson, Monroe, Morgan, Muskingum, Noble, Perry and Washington Counties.  Recovery Summit 9 will be at the Pritchard Laughlin Civic Center near Cambridge on May 29 from 10:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.  This year’s theme is “Recovery Around The World.”  Attendees will explore mental health treatments and traditions from other nations, hear personal stories of recovery from mental illness, and listen to keynote speaker, Frederick Frese, Ph.D.

    
     Thirty-five years ago, while a young Marine Corps officer, Dr. Frese was diagnosed with schizophrenia and over the next ten years was in and out of psychiatric hospitals.  Despite his disability, he earned Masters and Doctoral degrees in psychology from Ohio University.  He is a psychologist who served for fifteen years as the Director of Psychology at Western Reserve Psychiatric Hospital and is presently the coordinator of the Summit County Ohio Recovery Project.  He is a published author and has been featured in the nationally televised video I’m Still Here:  The Truth about Schizophrenia.  Dr. Frese has keynoted at many state and national mental health conferences, describing the process of developing schizophrenia and living with the disorder, and sharing his 12 aspects of coping for persons with serious mental illness. 

     The first Recovery Summit in 2000 evolved from the belief that people can and do recovery from mental illness.  Inspiration came primarily from the many recovering individuals in the region, but also from the work of National Empowerment Center director Daniel Fisher, M.D., Ph.D., a psychiatrist who was hospitalized numerous times for schizophrenia.  Dr. Fisher says, “Research carried out at the National Empowerment Center has shown that people can fully recover from even the most severe forms of mental illness.  In-depth studies of people diagnosed with schizophrenia have shown that these people are capable of regaining significant roles in society.  These findings are consistent with long term studies carried out in the United States by Dr. Courtenay Harding and colleagues, and in Europe by Dr. Manfred Bleuler and Dr. Luc Ciompi.  In spite of the evidence, most people in this country still believe that when a person has been labeled with mental illness they can never fully recover.  I believe that fear is a large factor in perpetuating the myth of no recovery.  Those persons who are labeled normal are afraid that they too could enter the realms of madness, and they are more comfortable thinking that those of us who have displayed severe emotional distress are qualitatively different than they are.  We who have recovered from mental illness know from our personal experience that recovery is real.  We know that recovery is more than remission with a brooding disease hidden in our hearts.  We have experienced healing and we are whole where we were broken.”

     The planning committee has consistently developed the Summits around six essential components of recovery:

• Hope.  Perhaps the single most important component of recovery, hope is instilled in all aspects of the event.  Hope for recovery is made real when attendees hear the personal stories of others in our region who have embarked on recovery journeys.
• Peer support and relationships.  Many of the 300 attendees have attended all of the previous Summits and have formed bonds.  Friendships and ongoing correspondences have resulted from this opportunity.
• Power and control.  From the beginning of the planning process to the final evaluation, there is a certain empowering atmosphere about Recovery Summits, which attendees  often mention in their evaluations.  It is clear to all participants that the honor and respect offered to them are genuine.  With empowering speakers and conference activities,  consumers are encouraged to take the reins of their own lives.
• Work and meaningful activity.  Sadly, many individuals living with mental illness are isolated and have feelings of loneliness and worthlessness.  The dozens of consumers of mental health services who have served on the Recovery Summit planning committees are thoroughly involved in meaningful service to their peers.  In addition, success stories regarding recovery and employment have been Recovery Summit highlights.
• Family support.  Recovery Summit content is designed to offer support and encouragement, as well as tips for coping, to family members of individuals with mental illness, allowing them to better understand and support the recovery of their loved ones.
• Stigma prevention.  Negative stigma is reduced when people are empowered to speak for themselves and to recover from mental illness, the central them of
  Recovery Summits.

     Recovery Summit 9 is open to all Washington County customers of mental health services and their family members.  Transportation will be provided on a limited basis.  If you are interested in attending, call me by May 5th at 374-6990 for a registration brochure.  There is a small fee, but it may be the best $7 you have ever spent.