Speakers Bureau
Goal
To design impactful workshops and training materials for targeted audiences in collaboration with Speakers based on their own recovery narratives. Here is a description of the first workshop developed.
In Patricia Deegan’s account of her experience with mental illness she writes, "It is important to understand we are faced with recovering not just from mental illness, but also from the effects of being labeled mentally ill". To support recovery, we need to break down the stigma surrounding mental illness that exists in society and in the mental health system as well as system barriers to recovery. Stop Stigma, Support Recovery is workshop that combines consumers' personal narratives about recovery and stigma with discussion around how to reduce stigmatizing attitudes, behaviors and practices within the mental health community and to promote recovery. In addition to acknowledging the positive contributions providers make to recovery, participants learn to recognize stigmatizing behaviors and attitudes, deepen their understanding of how stigma affects recovery, and design a plan to combat stigma and to promote recovery within the mental health system.
Activities To Date
Ten pioneering speakers have received training on public speaking and are helping to shape the Stop Stigma, Support Recovery workshop. The speakers are at various stages of their own recovery and come from diverse geographic areas in Washington State. Six speaking engagements at provider agencies across the state have been completed thus far. Each speaking engagement was followed by a focus group with providers who contributed to the workshop. These focus groups are informing program development and educational materials referenced in the next section.
Next Steps
In 2008, the Speakers Bureau will welcome 10 new speakers to the group, it will continue its work in collaboration with provider agencies across the state, and will begin to branch out to other target audiences. A formal evaluation to assess if there is any change in providers’ attitudes before and after participating in the workshop is also planned in the coming year once the program has been refined to the speakers' satisfaction.
To Arrange For A Speaker
To arrange for a speaker, please call Beverly Miller at 206-463-4254, or email her at beverly@u.washington.edu
