Virginia C. Stoffel; Opportunities for Occupational Therapy Behavioral Health: A Call to Action. Am J Occup Ther 2013;67(2):140–145. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2013.672001
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© 2021 American Occupational Therapy Association
health (overcoming or managing one’s disease as well as living in a physically and emotionally healthy way), home (a stable and safe place to live), purpose (meaningful daily activities, such as a job, school, volunteerism, family caretaking, or creative endeavors, and the independence, income and resources to participate in society), and community (relationships and social networks that provide support, friendship, love and hope). (SAMHSA, 2011a, p. 1)
a transformed system of care . . . based on the core beliefs that prevention works, that services and supports can be effective, that people can and do recover, and that communities benefit from including and valuing the contributions of all their members. (SAMHSA, 2011b, para. 1)
primary care settings have become the gateway to the behavioral health system, and primary care providers need support and resources to screen and treat individuals with behavioral and general health care needs. . . . The solution lies in integrated care, the systematic coordination of general and behavioral healthcare. (SAMHSA, n.d.-b, para. 2–3)
These support activities are rooted in community settings and may include supported housing, employment, education, socially inclusive activities, spirituality, and parenting as well as recovery coaching or mentoring, peer support, and the use of self-care tools such as Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP), Pathways to Recovery, psychiatric medications, and psychiatric advance directives. (Davidson & Tondora, 2011, para. 6)
In general, a peer specialist is an individual who has made a personal commitment to his or her own recovery, has maintained that recovery over a period of time, has taken special training to work with others, and is willing to share what he or she has learned about recovery in an inspirational way. In many states, there is an official certification process (training and test) to become a qualified peer specialist. Not all states certify peers, but most organizations require peer specialists to complete training that is specific to the expected responsibilities of the job (or volunteer work). Often, a peer specialist has extra incentive to stay well because he or she is a role model for others. (NAPS, n.d., para. 2, italics added)
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