Recovery Action Planning and WRAP

This part of the website is about ways we can plan in advance, identifying the things that work, and what to avoid, in order to get and keep ourselves well.

WRAP

One of the best known approaches is to use a Wellness Recovery Action Plan, or WRAP. 

Please click here for more information on WRAP.

News, September 2011
Along with patients in a WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Plan) group, workers at the Haldon Unit, Exeter (for Eating Disorders) have designed a spider chart, intended as a complement to a full WRAP plan.

Click here to download the chart (in pdf format)

 Read more: Recovery Spider Chart

News, September 2010
New research  into the Wellness Recovery Action Planning (WRAP) self management tool has reported overwhelmingly positive results. The research, commissioned by the Scottish Recovery Network as part of its drive to share recovery tools, was focussed on the use of WRAP in self-help and mutual support groups.
Read More.

Other Ways to Plan in Advance

When in better health, each of us can take some reponsibility for our own wellbeing, even though the extent of this will vary greatly, depending on how well or ill we are. Each of us will need to take the time to find our own individual ways of doing this. There is no 'One size fits all'. Recovery oriented approaches are focused on the need to be highly flexible and person centred. The key aspects to keep in mind are:

• Tiny steps
• Being kind to yourself
• How to deal with setbacks
• Holdiing hope
  

Planning is best done when we are relatively untroubled, ideally with someone who knows us well. Together we can then develop a plan to support a pathway towards improved health. This will identify the things that work for us and recognise and plan for potential setbacks, so far as possible.

Recovery Action Plans can come in many forms. Some are written in a prepared format (as in the WRAP leaflet available here), others are written on index cards, or letters to ourselves. Alternatively they can be spoken and recorded either as audio or video files made easily available, for instance carried on a thumb drive.

One of the most important aspects is to know when we need support and how to get it - whether that be from friends and family, from community organisations, or from the mental health services.

Advance Statements

One good way to plan is to write down (or record) an advance statement of how we would like things to be, and how we would like others to behave towards us, when we become very ill. This is sometimes called an advance directive.

By planning ahead, while we are relatively well, and creating an advance statement we can think more clearly about what we want to happen in the event of difficulties. This is better than having to do so when in crisis, when our judgments may be impaired.

Once prepared, it is helpful for the plan / statement to be copied to those whom we hope and trust will put our wishes into action - again that may include friends, family, mental health workers or others.