Recovery
Recovery is a personal process that involves overcoming the negative impact of a psychiatric disability despite its continued presence. In a recovery-oriented system, mental health consumers rebuild meaningful lives while receiving services that enable them to recover and decrease their dependence on the system. As Ohio continues to move to a recovery-oriented mental health system, the Ohio Department of Mental Health (ODMH) is striving to provide education and technical support for recovery programs and/or activities that reach beyond the critical issues of assuring personal safety and managing symptoms and focus on the rebuilding of full, productive lives despite a mental disorder. People can and do recover from mental illness.
Recovery supports
Employment
Research evidence strongly supports the critical impact that employment plays in promoting recovery. Many consumers of mental health services desire employment and can locate, obtain and maintain employment if they are given support and guidance from peers and family members.
Cultural Competence
Assuring that language, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, customs, values and the traditions of all Ohioans are considered when developing statewide policy, programs and practices is necessary to support recovery and deliver consumer-driven, person-centered mental health services.
Housing
Recovery is facilitated when safe, decent and affordable housing options are provided to Ohioans experiencing mental illness. These options may include adult care facilities, transitional housing, permanent supportive housing with on-site or mobile services as well as completely independent living arrangements, such as home ownership. The ultimate goal is to provide the highest possible degree of functional living and independence, whatever living arrangement a consumer chooses.
Reducing Stigma
While one in five Americans lives with a mental disorder, estimates indicate that nearly two-thirds of all people with a diagnosable mental illness do not seek treatment, especially people from diverse communities. Lack of knowledge, fear of disclosure, rejection of friends and discrimination are a few reasons why people with mental illness don’t seek help. Reducing stigma associated with mental illness is critical in ensuring that people seek treatment and begin their recovery process.
Faith-Based Initiatives
When experiencing mental illness, people often return to their faith-based roots for support to understand their illness. Faith-based initiatives offer great opportunities for organizations to partner with institutions of faith to share information with parishioners on recovery and resiliency for overall wellness.
ODMH Toll-Free Bridge
One way ODMH supports recovery is by employing consumers to provide customer service to other consumers and family members who call the toll-free bridge line. Toll-free bridge representatives provide information and referrals to mental health services and organizations statewide, while also serving as a single point of entry to ODMH for consumer and family complaints, grievances and appeals.
(614) 466-7228 (local)
1-877-ASK-ODMH (1-877-275-6364)
1-888-ODMH-TTY
askODMH@mh.ohio.gov
ODMH Consumer and Family Partnership Team
The Consumer and Family Partnership Team advocates for increased and strengthened consumer and family representation on ODMH committees and workgroups.
Ohio Community Support Planning Council
The Ohio Community Support Planning Council works to enhance the recovery process and to improve the quality of life of people with mental illness in Ohio. Members also evaluate the mental health block grant application.
Scholarship and Technical Assistance Funds
Scholarship and technical assistance funds are available to eligible consumer and family members to attend workshops, conferences or to participate in educational trainings. Mental Health America of Franklin County manages these funds statewide for ODMH. To learn more about these funds and to download an application, visit the Scholarships section on the Mental Health America of Franklin County Web site.
Colors of Recovery
The colors of forest green and purple represent recovery for those with mental illness. Green is the color of Spring and of new beginnings and growth. Just like the plants in a forest, we all grow at our own speed and in our own way. Purple stands for hope, and there is hope for all of us in our recovery. Let these colors remind you to celebrate recovery!
Recovery-related links
Community Services for the Deaf/HOH
1-877-781-6670 (voice and TTY)
www.c-s-d.org
Multiethnic Advocates for Cultural Competence
(614) 221-7841
www.maccinc.net/
National Alliance for the Mentally Ill
1-800-686-2646
www.namiohio.org
Scholarships/Technical Assistance
Mental Health Association of Franklin County
(614) 221-1441
www.mhafc.org
Ohio Federation for Children’s Mental Health
(513) 948-3077
www.ohiofederation.org/
Thomas M. Wernert Center
Leadership Education Program
(419) 242-3000