Peer Support Project under the Recovery Model for Individuals with Mental Health Challenges

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Sung Hor Mui and Lee Mang YingService ManagerYuet Hang Home

Social Worker ISunrise Centre

2www.fuhong.org

Social Welfare Department and Non-governmental Organizations social and rehabilitation services in the community

Hospital Authority statutory body providing comprehensive in-patients and out-patients, community outreach services

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Mental Health Services in Hong Kong

HA

NGOSWD

Paradigm shift

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Recovery in Mental Health

the development of new meaning and purpose in one’s life as one grows beyond the catastrophic effects of psychiatric

disability (William Anthony, 1993)

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Mental Health Peer Support Peer support project in Hong Kong• 3-year project “Mindset” in 2012• 2-year pilot project on Peer support service in

community psychiatric service unit in 2016

10 Guiding Principles of Recovery (SAMHSA, 2012)• Hope• Person-driven

• Peer Support• Strength• Holistic• Many Pathways…………

Reduce Self-stigma through Self-disclosure

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• “I realize I was accepted by others, and I experienced reducing self-stigma.”

Kammy’s story as a Peer Support Worker

• “I am an ordinary person, that is people with mental illness are not shameful.”

Holistic View of Personal Recovery Journey

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• “I do not only remember symptoms and treatment, but also people and things worth to be memorized…my family and my friends.”

Kammy’s story as a Peer Support Worker

• “the experience of mental illness was just a part of my life”

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Challenge Social Stigma Promote Social Inclusion

• “students were surprised that Kammy was cheerful and friendly, they used to think mental patients were lack of facial expression”

Kammy’s story as a Peer Support Worker

• “ it was hard to imagine a mental patient could complete a University course.”

Mary’s story as a Service User

The only person in this world

She felt lonely

Shared experience makes normalizing and supported

“Oh yes, I had this!”

Mary’s story as a Service User

Enhanced her sense of conformity. She was not different and alone

Mutuality of relationship

Give something back

Mary’s story as a Service User

She was not only a service receiver anymore

Conclusion

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• Building relationships • Social connection• Reciprocal - giving and

receiving

• Personal empowerment• Reduce self and social

stigma• Holistic perspective on

Recovery

Thank you!

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