The White Paper: Do No Harm: Rule #4

Do No Harm

Many of us agree that there have been times when our strays in hospitals and mental health programs have

1. contributed to our problems, and even

2. re-traumatized us.

We would like to see the following procedure included in any service delivery system:

● Refer to our Advance Directives and/or Wellness Recovery Action Plans, and follow instructions within these documents before reacting to a situation.

● Consider "Forced Treatment" as a system failure. "If you have to force me to use your services, you have failed to engage me in the treatment process. This is not my failure. It is yours." This could be addressed by having service providers think "outside the box" by offering innovative services which could be used voluntarily.

● Eliminate restraint and seclusion, as it only makes us feel worthless and inhuman. "We are in a hospital to heal, not to create deeper wounds or further trauma."

● The term "non-compliant" is representative of the perspective that the provider is the expert, and it assumes that I am not an equal partner in my services.

Providers need to recognize that the use of this term is a covert form of coercion, and, it works against a partnership based on respect. For that reason, use of the term "non-compliant" must be discontinued.

● Listen to us, and

▪ be patient, and

▪ respectful

when we ask for your time and attention.

● Discuss a variety of treatment options. Allow us the time to make an informed choice.

● If we request the involvement of our family, friends, or significant others, they must be fully informed of treatment options and risks on a regular basis.

● Selectively partner compatible people, whom we choose as roommates, so that our stay in services cam be as safe and comfortable as possible.

Additionally, this rule apples to the community-at-large.
For example,

(1) we feel that education for law enforcement agencies is a priority,

(2) so that police officers do not always react in an aggressive manner,

(3) so that they don't create a more dangerous situation.

Society as a whole must be
educated on mental health issues,

so that they
become aware
that we are not dangerous people.

Education in the community-at-large will also be helpful in

reducing discrimination and stigma,

as people learn to treat us with dignity and respect, no matter what emotional state we may be experiencing.

to Rule # 5