Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) Use Among Mental Health Consumers.

Understanding integrative approaches to mental health care can improve the responsiveness of the mental health system. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use is on the rise. Research documents that many mental health consumers use CAM. This exploratory study attempts to advance awareness of CAM in mental health by examining mental health consumers' usage of CAM, their experiences in discussing CAM use with providers, and how CAM use relates to mental health recovery. Results show that 72% of the sample uses such methods, and CAM use is associated with recovery. About 54% of respondents feel CAM combined with medication is more effective than medication alone, and many endorse positive beliefs about CAM. Most consumers shared CAM use with their providers, but when they did not, the main reasons were fear of provider judgment and provider attitudes being a deterrent.

A Pilot Evaluation of the Rapid Response Program: A Home Based Family Therapy.

A pilot evaluation study of the implementation of the Rapid Response Program, a program utilizing the ecosystemic structural family therapy model, in a rural area of Pennsylvania was conducted. This approach was implemented in children's mental health to supplant a costly model of care that had not proven to break the cycle of dependency for children with severe behavioral problems and their families. Initial results show that the Rapid Response Program appears to improve problematic family patterns and children's behavioral problems. The study results are limited by small sample size; however, the outcomes suggest that the program warrants further study using a more rigorous research design with a larger sample.

Exploring the effect of organizational culture on consumer perceptions of agency support for mental health recovery.

This research explores the impact of mental health agency culture on consumers' perceptions of agency support for their recovery. This study hypothesized that a constructive organizational culture must be present for consumers to perceive agency support for recovery. A sample of 12 mental health agencies in rural Pennsylvania participated in the research. Agency administrators completed an instrument called the recovery oriented service environment, which measured the number of recovery model program components offered by the agency. Consumers completed the recovery oriented services indicators, which taps into their perception of agency support for recovery. Direct service staff completed the organizational social context, which measured their agency's culture. Results showed that in this sample stronger consumer perceptions of agency support for recovery were correlated with higher ratings of agency constructive culture. The results suggest that agency culture is an important variable to target when implementing recovery model programming.

Using appreciative inquiry to facilitate implementation of the recovery model in mental health agencies.

This article describes an organizational development tool called appreciative inquiry (AI) and its use in mental health to aid agencies implementing recovery model services. AI is a discursive tool with the power to shift dominant organizational cultures. Its philosophical underpinnings emphasize values consistent with recovery: community, empowerment, and positive focus. Recent research in the field of mental health demonstrates the salience of organizational cultural context in affecting new service adoption. This article explores how AI could be helpful in shifting an organization's culture to render it compatible with recovery through descriptions of two mental health centers' use of the tool. The experiences described indicate that AI, if used consistently, empowers staff. The article concludes with consideration of the implications of this empowerment for recovery model implementation and directions for future research.

Effective organizational transformation in psychiatric rehabilitation and recovery.

The recovery model represents a new paradigm in the treatment of psychiatric disability. Many states have mandated the model's adoption by their public mental health agencies. As organizational transformation toward this new approach is rapidly occurring, guidance to make successful change is necessary. The recovery model is readily misunderstood and may be resisted by professional occupational cultures that perceive it as a threat to their expertise. Successful change agents need to understand likely sources of resistance to agency transformation, and be knowledgeable and skilled in organizational development to facilitate service conversion to the recovery model. Change agents need to carefully consider how to transform agency structure and culture and how to develop committed leadership that empowers staff. Recovery values and principles must infuse the entire organization. Guidelines to assist change agents are discussed and distilled through the example of a successful northern California recovery model mental health agency called Turning Point Community Programs. The guidance provided seeks to help make the recovery model portable across many types of mental health settings.