Conversations that Matter

Conversations that Matter

Monday, May 23, 2016 - 1:30pm - 3:00pm 

The first peer-run alternative was recorded in 1539, Spain. Since then, the history of the peer movement has been as a social justice movement protesting abuses of the mental health system and its practitioners .Its evolution followed the lines of many emancipation movements ( e.g. Feminist , Civil Rights movements) in that the first phases involved the rejection of the powerful (e.g. men, Whites ) and over time, as the group became more empowered, the struggle became one of some form of co-existence with those rejected --varying from collaboration, cooperation, to integration. Recovery as a concept became part of the mental health system lexicon around the beginning of the 1990's. Its meaning often  included scientific evidence, personal evidence and professional experiences. Perceptions of what the Recovery "Movement" is, colors views on who should be in it and what constitutes co-optation. One view holds that it should be strictly a peer movement, with professionals, supportive but outside. Another is that it should also include all stakeholders to best effect change.  What should be the role of  recovery oriented professionals, if anything? To achieve its purpose, should peers and non peers become full  partners in the Recovery Movement? develop something else?

Learning Objectives

• Understand points of view regarding the role of peer providers vs. other providers as a part of systems change.
• Clarify or identify their own point of view about the place of professionals and peers in the overall Recovery movement
• Understand the potential differences in recovery advocacy as enacted by professionals and non-professionals
• Identify different approaches to furthering the Recovery movement that have been proposed for the future

Faculty

Dr. Marianne Farkas; Daniel Fisher, M.D.,PhD; Dr. Daniel Bradford MD, MPH; Dr. Marcia Hunt; Sandy Resnick PhD