Do's and Don'ts
Do we as peers give advice to clients?
What is: No, we provide suggestions that have worked for us
As a peer in a mental health organization. Is it good to admit to your clients that you're not having the best day?
Yes
My Explanation: It helps the client understand that even in the position your in you have your days and helps build a rapport with the client.
A person with lived experience with a mental illness or substance use is considered what?
What is: A Peer
Is recovery a one size fits all experience.
What is: NO, recovery is a forever changing road that is different for each person.
What is the purpose of a Peer to model recovery?
To demonstrate what life in recovery looks like.
Do we as peers provide therapeutic services?
No
Explanation: We as peers are here to be a link between the staff and the participant.
What makes a peer role unique?
Our Lived experience
Explanation: We work together with clinicians to help our clients on their road to recovery. Our lived experience allows us a different perspective that is valuable in helping our clients.
Does our experience make us more valuable than a clinician who isn't a peer?
No
Explanation: What we do is work in tandem with the staff to help with the recovery process.
Is recovery a simple ride ride for all?
What is: No
Explanation: Each and every recovery process is different. Two people with the same diagnosis may not receive the same treatment.
As peers we practice this daily with our clients, sometimes it works out well and other times it doesn't what am I?
Self-determination
Explanation: We practice this to help guide the client rather than to tell them what to do. It makes the client feel better about themselves when they are the expert for themselves.
We fight to end this and allow others who are going through what we went through a better chance to be themselves, what am I?
Stigma
Explanation: There is a stigma with mental illness along with substance use. The stigma has the ability to stop someone from receiving the help they need.
Does Recovery mean we no longer experience symptoms?
No
Explanation: In some cases an individual may no longer experience major symptoms such as Auditory or visual hallucinations. The individual may still feel minor symptoms such as sleep disturbances or feelings of anxiousness.
You're with a client and the client begins to tell you that a staff member has hit them while they were walking down the hall. You discover that the staff person in question no longer works for Trilogy. What do you do next?
Call and report to OIG
Explanation: Despite the fact that the staff member in question no longer works with the company. The issue must still be reported.
Does compassion play a role in the recovery process?
Yes,
Explanation: Without the use of compassion how can we make a participant feel comfortable enough to allow us to help.
What makes a great peer support specialist?
A person who shows compassion, someone who shows respect, a person who makes a client feel comfortable, someone who advocates for the people they serve.
In the recovery process this core value is needed to help show the client that recovery is possible?
What is: Hope
Is peer service work an evidence based practice?
Yes
Explanation: In a letter dated August 15, 2007, the Director of the Center for Medicaid and State Operations (a department of CMS) declared peer support services “an evidence-based mental health model of care which consists of a qualified peer support provider who assists individuals with their recovery from mental illness and substance use disorders.”