CLINICAL HANDBOOK OF SCHIZOPHRENIA

276 IV. PSYCHOSOCIAL TREATMENTTABLE 27.2. (continued)ProgramWellness RecoveryAction Plan (WRAP;Copeland, 1997);materials can bepurchased atwww.mentalhealthrecovery.comApproximateContentlength and format• Helping Yourself PreventRelapse• Avoiding Crisis Situations• Coping with Symptomsand Side Effects• Managing Crisis andEmergency SituationsParticipants develop apersonal WRAP plan withseven components:• Creating a DailyMaintenance Plan• Identifying Triggers, EarlyWarning Signs, and Signsof Potential Crisis• Developing a Crisis Plan• Establishing a NurturingLifestyle• Setting up a SupportSystem and Self-Advocacy• Increasing Self-Esteem• Relieving Tension andStressUsually providedin 2-day workshop;follow-up issometimesincludedDistinguishingcharacteristics• Primarily taught inworkshop conducted bytrained peer facilitators• Written materialsavailable• Focuses on healthyhabits• Tends to avoidproviding informationabout specific disorders• Participants receivesupport and inspirationfrom leaders and eachother• Participants develop aWRAP plan that theyrefer to on a regularbasis• Strong self-helpcomponentcause they are mainly operated by people with mental illness, clients do not have to dealwith stigma when developing relationships with others at peer support programs. Also,peer support agencies usually offer a range of social, recreational, and work activitiesspecifically designed to foster the development of social bonds (e.g., inexpensive meals,community trips, support groups, work activities at the program). In addition, peer supportagencies often offer clients opportunities to learn more about how to manage theirpsychiatric illness, and provide role models of people who have learned how to takecharge of their lives. Finally, because participation in peer support programs involves givingsupport to other people, many clients find the experience of helping others to be aspowerful, or even more powerful than being helped. Actively helping and supporting othersprovides tangible evidence that the client has something to offer others, which canboost feelings of self-esteem and worth. More information about peer support programsis provided by Frese (Chapter 30, this volume).STANDARDIZED ILLNESS SELF-MANAGEMENT PROGRAMSA number of illness self-management programs are available for people with schizophrenia.Although the programs overlap in content, each also has its unique features, and clientsmay benefit from participating in more than one program. Five standardized andwidely available illness self-management programs are described in Table 27.2. Theseprograms can be provided in a variety of settings, including inpatient and outpatient set-