Introduction: page 1
A Vision of Recovery
by New York State Consumers, Survivors, Patients & Ex-Patients

New York State Office of Mental Health's (NYS OMH) Evidence-Based Practices (EBPs) models have created an interest and a call to action to infuse input - our input - into creating and measuring quality mental health services throughout New York State.

This is our opportunity to create a vision of recovery that we have been working so hard to achieve through fragmented actions all over the state.

This document - The White Paper - takes all of these fragmented ideas from people who are

▪  consumers,
▪  survivors,
▪  patients, and
▪ ex-patients, who live in every region of New York,

and puts a clear picture together as to what quality, recovery-based services would look like.

We acknowledge that many recovery processes are independent of - and beyond the boundaries and responsibilities of -  mental health services.

In an attempt to achieve our goal, we will be focusing only on how New York State can create services that will support an individual on his or her
recovery path.

It is a person-centered approach that we believe is long overdue in the mental health community.

It should be noted that although many of us support evidence-based practices, this White Paper is not a result of consumer/survivors promoting that initiative.

Instead, The White Paper is a movement toward infusing our definition of quality into evidence-based practices, and any other initiative within the mental health service delivery system.

Our definition of quality is derived from our collective experiences and who we are as individuals.

This White Paper is the first step in bringing attention to, and gaining support for,

◊ infusing clear and measurable indicators of quality into all aspects of the mental health system, which will guide individuals toward

1. self-help,
2. empowerment, and
3. self-determination.

The idea being - no matter what kind of mental health services are delivered - if the new rules are applied, the recovery outcomes for people who use mental health services will improve.

◊ The White Paper is our attempt to bring the mental health system to a more level playing field, for both

● professionals, and

● people who use mental heath services.

to Introduction, page 2