ASHLAND — The Mental Health and Recovery Board of Ashland County will be hosting the 10th annual Pat Risser RSVP (Respect, Success, Value, Purpose) Conference, cosponsored by Disability Rights Ohio, on Wednesday, Oct. 4 at Ashland University Convocation Center. The theme for 2017 is “Trauma, Resiliency, and Recovery.”
The RSVP conference promotes recovery by individuals facing trauma, mental health challenges, and/or alcohol/drug abuse and addictions; educates mental health professionals about trauma-informed and recovery-oriented mental health care; and explores ways that communities can be supportive and trauma-informed. The conference will be of interest to mental health consumers in recovery, to individuals in recovery who do not avail themselves of services from the specialty mental health sector, peer support specialists, mental health professionals, health care providers, and community members.
The first annual RSVP conference took place in 2008, with the intention to promote recovery among individuals diagnosed with mental disorders, and the use of recovery-oriented systems of care. Plans to hold a regional conference started off with informal conversations between Pat Risser, a local mental health advocate; Steve Stone, Executive Director of the MHRB; and board staff. Mental health consumers – those with lived experiences – were “at the table” when planning and organizing the conference in 2008 and thereafter.
The RSVP conference has evolved over time, brought thought-provocative state- and national-level experts to Ashland to serve as presenters. The MHRB has played host for this conference, cosponsoring with different agencies or organizations along the way. During the last nine conferences, on average, 125 individuals from across Ohio attended, and evaluation data revealed that the conference, keynotes, and breakout sessions were beneficial. The conferences were successful, and of interest to target groups that included mental health consumers in recovery and mental health professionals.
In 2017, the name for the conference was changed to honor Pat Risser who had passed away, acknowledging him as one of the key architects of the conference, and as a leading voice in the psychiatric survivor movement. Pat Risser openly and powerfully shared his story of recovery in written and oral form. He made a major difference in the lives of those struggling with mental health issues — by engaging in advocacy efforts at the national level, by offering ideas of how to be empowered and to have rights preserved, and by emphasizing the value of trauma-informed care, medication optimization, and peer support.
The MHRB is honored to have Ron Coleman and Karen Taylor, International Hearing Voices Network, as keynote speakers and presenters at a breakout session (addressing how to set up and run hearing voices groups).
Ron Coleman is an international expert on schizophrenia, is a mental health trainer, specializing in the prevention and resolution of psychosis. He has designed training packages to empower individuals who hear voices, to help them overcome negative aspects and results of voice hearing experiences. His “lived experiences,” which included being “in and out” of the mental health system for 13 years in his recovery journey, has provided him with insights about negative aspects of the mental health system, powerfully raising issues that need to be addressed. He has written several books, including “Politics of the Madhouse.” He has returned to his Scotland homeland.
Karen Taylor is a Registered Mental Health Nurse, who had 16 years of experience in the National Health Services in England. She has designed, implemented, and managed innovative community-based services. She coauthored with Coleman a workbook entitled “Working to Recovery,” and directed a psychosis resolution program that was recovery-focused in nature. She is now based in Scotland, and co-directs “Working to Recovery Ltd” with Coleman.
Both Coleman and Taylor have introduced recovery training in New Zealand, England, Denmark, Australia, Italy, and Palestine.
Coleman’s opening keynote, entitled “A Bad Career Move…” will focus on his lived experiences, including his entrance into the mental health system and living in a chaotic “world” that was characterized by hearing voices. His journey led to resolution and recovery. He will discuss phases of voice hearing, the importance of personal narrative, and the role voices play in recovery. He offers hope to voice hearers, helping them to be empowered.
Mark Hurst, M.D., Medical Director, Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, will present the State of the State address. He will be focusing on the status of the trauma-informed care initiative in Ohio and on the opiate epidemic.
Multiple breakout sessions are offered, focusing on trauma, resiliency, and recovery. Topics include the following: “Understanding & Altering Trauma’s Impact on Self-Esteem,” “What the ACE Study Can Teach Us About Trauma, Recovery, & Resilience,” “Finding Your Voice by Writing,” “The Role of Mindfulness & Aromatherapy in the Recovery Process,” and “Trauma-Focused Yoga/Mindfulness.”
The RSVP conference will take place on Oct. 4 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Ashland University Convocation Center. CEUs (4.75) are offered to social workers and counselors. Cost for attending the entire conference, including lunch, is $45 with CEUs, $20 without CEUs. Registration for the conference can be completed online by visiting the MHRB website (www.ashlandmhrb.org). The registration deadline is Friday, Sept. 29. If you have any questions or would like further information, contact Hillary Wertman, Special Projects Coordinator, MHRB (419-281-3139; hwertman@ashlandmhrb.org).
