Illness Management and
Recovery:
A Collaboration for an Evidence
Based Practice
Presented by:
Kerrin Westerlind, LICSW
The Bridge of Central Mass
Amy C. Morgan, LCSW, CPRP
Advocates, Inc.
Learning Objectives
•
Identify the key components of IMR
•
Have knowledge about what makes
an EBP an EBP
•
Have the knowledge to consider
implementing IMR into existing
programs
•
Understand the tools used as
outcome measures in IMR
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Other sources utilized include:
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Illness Management and Recovery Implementation
Resource Kit (Draft Version 2003)
Illness Management and Recovery Workbook for
Clinical and Practical Supervisors
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration. Illness Management and Recovery.
HHS Pub. No. SMA-09-4462, Rockville, MD: Center
for Mental Health Services, Substance Abuse and
Mental Health Services Administration, U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services, 2009.
The above can be accessed at:
http://store.samhsa.gov/product/IllnessManagement-and-Recovery-Evidence-BasedPractices-EBP-KIT/SMA09-4463
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What is Illness Management
and Recovery?
IMR is a program that helps people:
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set meaningful goals for themselves
acquire information and skills to
develop more mastery over their
“psychiatric illness”
make progress towards their own
personal recovery
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Who were the originators
of IMR?
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Kim Mueser and Susan Gingerich
were the co-leaders of the team that
developed the Illness Management &
Recovery Program
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IMR is an
Evidence Based Practice
IMR is an evidence based practice that
was developed through a contract from
the Substance Abuse Mental Health
Services Administration’s (SAMHSA)
Center for Mental Health Services
(CMHS) and a grant from the Robert
Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF).
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What is an
Evidence Based Practice?
Evidence based practices are
services or programs designed for
people with a diagnosis of a mental
illness. There is consistent scientific
evidence of improved outcomes for
program participants as
demonstrated by multiple research
studies.
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Evidence-Based Components
of Illness Management
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Psycho education improves individuals’
knowledge about “mental illness”
Behavioral tailoring for medication helps
individuals take medication as prescribed
Relapse prevention training reduces
symptom relapses and re-hospitalizations
Coping skills training reduces the severity
and distress of persistent symptoms
Gingerich,S., and Mueser, K.T. Illness Management and Recovery. In: Drake, R.E.,
Merrens, M.R., and Lynde, D.W., eds. Evidence-Based Mental health Practice: A
Textbook. New York: norton,2005 p.401.
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Core Values of IMR
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HOPE is the key ingredient
The person is the expert in his her
own life
Personal choice is paramount
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Core Values of IMR
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Practitioners are collaborators
Practitioners demonstrate respect for
people who experience psychiatric
symptoms
Individuals don’t fail the practice,
the practice fails them
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6 Core Values in IMR
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Hope is the key ingredient
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The long term course of mental
illness cannot be predicted
Being able to influence one’s own
destiny is the basis for future hope
and optimism
Having other people believe in us is
essential to the empowerment
process (therefore, practitioners
may at times may “hold” the hope.)
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6 Core Values in IMR
(continued)
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The person is the expert in his
her own life.
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The person knows what strategies
work and have not worked.
The person knows what has been
helpful and what has not.
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6 Core Values in IMR
(continued)
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Personal choice is paramount
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The ability and right to make one’s own
decisions, including when those
decisions differ from recommendations
made by providers.
The task then becomes to work with
individuals to evaluate the
consequences of decisions in terms of
their hopes and dreams. Acceptance is
also paramount.
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6 Core Values of IMR
(continued)
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Practitioners are collaborators
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Practitioners as consultants in a
non-hierarchal relationship.
Practitioners participate in the
practice. This includes working on
a recovery goal and utilizing IMR
skills.
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6 Core Values of IMR
(continued)
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Practitioners demonstrate respect
for people who experience
psychiatric symptoms
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As capable decision-makers and
active participants in their own
treatment.
Respect for differing values and
opinions.
To seek common ground when there
is a difference in point of view.
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6 Core Values in IMR
(continued)
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Individuals don’t fail the practice,
the practice fails them
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Individuals are given unconditional
support for their participation.
Programs work under easy
re-entry and “fail safe” principles.
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Core Ingredients
of the IMR Program
•
5 to 12 months of weekly sessions
conducted by trained practitioners.
•
A collection of ten educational
handouts that contain practical
information and strategies.
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A Practitioners’ Guide with tips for
teaching people about mental illness
and helping them implement
strategies.
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Essence of the IMR Practice
o Emphasis on recovery goals
o Encourages the involvement of
significant others
o Emphasis on the outside practice
of skills
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The Goals of Illness
Management and Recovery:
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Instill hope that change is possible
Develop a collaborative relationship
with a treatment team
Help people establish personally
meaningful goals to strive towards
Teach information about mental
illness and treatment options
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The Goals of IMR: (Continued)
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Develop skills for reducing relapses,
dealing with stress, and coping with
symptoms
Provide information about where to
obtain needed resources
Assist individuals in developing or
enhancing their natural supports for
managing their illness
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10 Topic Areas
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Recovery Strategies
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Reducing Relapses
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Practical Facts about
Mental Illness
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Coping with Stress
•
Coping with Problems
and Persistent
Symptoms
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Getting Your Needs
Met in the Mental
Health System
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Drug and Alcohol Use
(optional)
•
The StressVulnerability Model
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Building Social
Support
•
Using Medications
Effectively
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Language and the IMR practice
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Developed at a point in time
Advocates’ decision to change to
WMR
Wellness Management and
Recovery
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A Collaboration Between Two
Agencies
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Advocates and the Bridge working
together
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Training
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Monthly WMR Consultation Team
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Developing Structures
that Support Implementation
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IMR Director
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Agency Consultation Team
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Program Consultation Teams
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Clearly defining the role of staff
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Comprehensive Training Series
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Ongoing Assessment and Monitoring
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Outcome measures
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Fidelity/GOI
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Contact Information
Kerrin Westerlind, LICSW
Director of IMR Services
The Bridge of Central Ma
kerrinw@thebridgecm.org
508-890-2299 ext. 134
Amy C. Morgan, LCSW, CPRP
Assistant Director of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services
Advocates, Inc.
amorgan@advocatesinc.org
508-612-5780
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Resources
www.mentalhealthrecovery.com
www.tucollaborative.org
www.alternativementalhealth.com
www.realmentalhealth.com
www.power2u.org
www.theicarusproject.net
www.mhselfhelp.org
www.m-power.org
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