We emphasize the importance of a person’s ability to understand, accept, anticipate and manage the symptoms of his or her psychiatric illness. This is demonstrated, in part, by the decreased frequency and length of hospitalizations and/or crisis events. As mental illness management skills increase, the client is able to focus on the rehabilitation/recovery activities that support increased independence and reintegration into the broader community. The ability to know one’s strengths and vulnerabilities, coupled with the acquisition of skills to cope and grow in the community, are key components to a person’s successful graduation from our mental health program.
When this occurs, our expectation is that the person will have a healthy living situation, a structured day plan (employment, education, or volunteer work), and supportive outpatient treatment for mental health issues along with the access to the transportation and financial resources necessary to sustain these activities. Our community behavioral services, therefore, emphasize the acquisition of the information, skills, and supports needed to locate and use community behavioral health resources. From the onset of our work with a person, we focus on building a natural bridge to local community resources, employers, apartment complexes, welfare and social security offices, as well as cultivating formal and informal support networks.
