WHAT IS PEERZONE (WELLBEING RECOVERY LEARNING)? |
||
Wellbeing recovery learning, now called PeerZone, is structured life learning in a peer support context – designed and delivered by and for people with experience of mental distress. The purpose of PeerZone is to:
We are currently finishing sixteen half-day face-to-face facilitated group sessions or learning packages. We will then adapt the material for an online course, as well as a paper based resource for individuals to use on their own or with a mentor or peer support worker. PeerZone is unique. Traditional psycho-education and much of recovery education focuses on accepting or managing illness, whereas wellbeing recovery learning invites people to focus on defining and achieving the lives they want. The learning packages, which were completed mid 2011, are aimed at working age people, particularly younger people with severe mental distress. Many of the learning packages will also be useful for all people in the population who experience loss of wellbeing and we plan to target this group in the future. WHO IS DEVELOPING IT? PeerZone is being developed by Mary O'Hagan and Sara McCook Weir in partnership with several agencies and people who have lived experience of mental distress. Mary and Sara both have lived experience of mental distress. |
 Dance by Henri Matisse
WHY WE'RE DOING IT People with severe mental distress, or anyone recovering from catastrophic life events, can face challenges and losses in many areas of life. Traditionally health and social services have developed resources outside the person to assist them with these challenges. Billions of dollars have gone into the development of drugs, professionals and service delivery which can fail to move people beyond services towards the life they want. We know that people with mental distress have an ability to learn and develop that is frequently untapped. PeerZone is designed to offer them a comprehensive range of resources to achieve the lives they choose. |
|
