Support - Recovery Resources
Mary Ellen Copeland Center for Wellness and Recovery
Mary Ellen Copeland is a mental health recovery educator and author. Her focus is on self-help. She has learned the concepts, skills and strategies she teaches from her own personal experience with extreme mood swings and from her ongoing studies with people who experience psychiatric symptoms. Her teachings and writings include topics like getting a sense of hope, Wellness Tools, Wellness Recovery Action Planning, Relapse Prevention, Crisis Planning, Developing a Strong Support System, Education, Personal Responsibility, Self-Advocacy, Building Self-Esteem, Healing from the Effects of Trauma, and Relieving Loneliness and Worry. She does not provide counseling services. The skills and strategies she teaches are not necessarily a replacement for other kinds of treatment, but complement any other treatment. This website includes links and references to a large variety of other recovery resources, and information about her recovery and coping skills seminars, many of which are available over the Internet. Click here to link to Copeland Wellness and Recovery Center website.
National Empowerment Center
The National Empowerment Center is a think tank responsible for some of the first and most important research and advocacy on recovery. It is staffed entirely by researchers who are themselves survivors of severe mental illness, who have gone on to earn advanced degrees and pursue the recovery vision. Their newsletters (available on this website) are a constant source of new thinking and information about recovery. For more information click here (http://www.power2u.org).
CONTAC
A national technical assistance center, CONTAC serves as a resource center for consumers/survivors/ex-patients and consumer-run organizations across the United States, promoting self-help, recovery and empowerment. CONTAC was developed utilizing research on ideal consumer self-help programs, successful consumer-run programs, community support service philosophy about service delivery, descriptions of mature mental health systems, and management and leadership skills. Click here to link to the CONTAC website (http://www.contac.org)
Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA)
DBSA offers Support Groups that can help you stick with your treatment plan and avoid hospitalization; provide a place for mutual acceptance, understanding and self-discovery; help you understand that a mood disorder does not define who you are; and give you the opportunity to benefit from the experiences of those who have “been there.” Each group has a professional advisor and appointed group leader. For dates and locations of support groups in New Hampshire, or for further information, contact DBSA at (800) 826-3632 or visit (http://www.DBSAlliance.org)
Schizophrenics Anonymous (S.A.)
A self-help support group sponsored by NMHA (National Mental Health Association), Schizophrenics Anonymous was developed by a person with schizophrenia who wanted to confront the stigma of mental illness and isolation. The six steps of the program (emphasizing surrender, choice, belief, forgiveness, understanding and decision making) help members rise above their illnesses and lead productive, fulfilling lives. Although there is no group currently running in New Hampshire at this time, a number of groups have been successfully started in other states. A free toolkit is available which provides all the information needed to start a local S.A. group. Mailing Address: 403 Seymour Avenue, Suite 202, Lansing, Michigan 48933 Phone: (517) 485-7168 or (800) 482-9534 (Consumer Line) Fax: (517) 485-7180 Website: www.nsfoundation.org/sa
Emotions Anonymous
Emotions Anonymous is a twelve-step organization, similar to Alcoholics Anonymous. People of all ages, social and economic backgrounds come together in confidential weekly meetings to work toward recovery from emotional difficulties. There is no cost to participants. The program has been effective for many people who suffer with depression, anger, broken or strained relationships, grief, anxiety, low self-esteem, panic, abnormal fears, resentment, jealousy, guilt, despair, fatigue, tension, boredom, loneliness, withdrawal, obsessive and negative thinking, worry, compulsive behavior and a variety of other emotional issues. For recorded information on all New England meetings, call (781) 729-7011or click here http://www.emotionsanonymous.org.
United States Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration
The U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration is the federal agency responsible for all federally supported mental health programs. The website contains information on all their publications (many are free) and other resources. Click here to link to the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (http://www.samhsa.gov)
