WRAP Coming to Portsmouth
Wellness Recovery Action Program
A Mary Ellen Copeland Workshop
A way to manage your emotional symptoms
instead of letting your symptoms manage you.
Seacoast Mental Health Center, Portsmouth
Tuesdays beginning January 17, 2006
5:30/6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
The NAMI-NH Seacoast Chapter is offering a program that may help you or a family member in their recovery and lead to a much better life. A number of years ago, Mary Ellen Copeland, who suffers from manic depression, major depression, fibromyalgia, and chronic myofacial pain syndrome was unhappy, wanted her life back, to work and to play, and to enjoy family and friends. Her search for answers to how people cope on a day-to-day basis uncovered ideas that, while often very simple and very safe, have the capacity to create major life change.
Working with others in a recovery group, Mary Ellen came up with a system that people are finding works for them. This system is called The Wellness Recovery Action Program, or WRAP, and is widely used throughout the country.
WRAP is a structured system for monitoring uncomfortable and distressing symptoms and, through planned responses, reducing, modifying, or eliminating these symptoms. It also includes plans for responses from others when your symptoms have made it impossible for you to continue to make decisions, take care of yourself, and keep yourself safe.
WRAP is presented in a proven, structured approach during twelve sessions. Learning to use WRAP is done with a facilitator who has recovered from a mental illness. That is a powerful tool in demonstrating that recovery is possible.
WRAP is being presented by the Seacoast Chapter of NAMI New Hampshire in cooperation with the Seacoast Mental Health Center (1155 Sagamore Ave., Portsmouth, NH).
There will be about twelve sessions on Tuesday evenings beginning January 17, 2006 at the SMHC conference room. WRAP facilitator will be Kim Wedel who lives in Somersworth, New Hampshire. All WRAP facilitators have been trained at the Mary Ellen Copeland Center in West Dummerston, Vermont and are themselves in recovery.
The WRAP process and presentation is structured to capture the successes others have had, to allow the facilitators to be effective, and to make it easier for participants to create a WRAP that meets their individual needs. The sessions will begin with a short, simple, light meal at 5:30. This will let people get comfortable with the surroundings, each other, and handle various arrival times. Then at 6 p.m. Kim will begin the WRAP program which will run until about 8:30 p.m. The closing time and the number of sessions may be adjusted to meet the needs of the participants.
In WRAP a Wellness Toolbox and a six part monitoring and response system is developed by the person who experiences the symptoms. This person may be assisted in this process by the supporters and health care professionals of their choice. Or if the person with symptoms is unable or unwilling to participate, a family member/supporter may participate.
The planning process begins by developing a Wellness Toolbox, a listing of skills and strategies that you have or want to use to keep yourself well and to help yourself feel better when you do not feel well. This is followed by the six WRAP modules. Section 1 is a daily maintenance plan. Section 2 deals with triggers. Section 3 deals with early warning signs. Section 4 deals with the situation getting much worse. Section 5 develops a crisis plan.
There is no cost for participation due to the generous support of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation - Piscataqua Section and SMHC making their space available. The only requirements are that participants will be expected to keep confidential any comments made during the sessions and to be respectful of others.
It can be difficult for some to come to a WRAP program as the person in wanting to stay well has to acknowledge that they have some emotional symptoms they need help on. Families should encourage their family member to come and try out the WRAP. Helping to overcome any discomfort is one reason we start with a simple meal - sandwiches, fruit, sodas.
For more information on the WRAP or to register call either:
- Don Moore, Seacoast Chapter of NAMI at 603-436-3264, or SeacoastNAMI@eml.cc
- Jackie Ellis, Seacoast Chapter of NAMI at 603-431-1512, or jackellis@aol.com
- Diane Cyr, Seacoast Mental Health Center at 603-431-6703 X3167 , or dcyr@smhc-nh.org
The WRAP program will be limited to 24 registrants. Priority will be given to those with a mental illness, but family members can participate if there is space and their participation is necessary or desirable for their family member to benefit from the WRAP.
Even if families are uncertain their family member will participate, please indicate you are considering it. Priority will be given to families connected with the Seacoast Chapter of NAMI and the related Bi-polar Support Group. But at some point we will open registration to those associated with other groups and to the general public. Depending on demand the WRAP may be offered in the fall of 2006.
