OLRS PAIMI Rights and Recovery Campaign
The OLRS PAIMI Rights and Recovery Campaign concluded in 2004. The purpose of the Campaign was to promote recovery and increase access to client rights and advocacy services for people receiving or seeking mental health services in Ohio. Funding for the Rights and Recovery Campaign was provided by the Ohio Department of Mental Health through a grant from the Federal Center for Mental Health Services.
Products and Activities of the Rights and Recovery Campaign
Developed guidelines for the Campaign
Guidelines were developed by the group to define the purpose of the Campaign. The guidelines were printed in a document called "Common Threads: Guidelines of the Rights and Recovery Campaign" and read as follows:
The OLRS PAIMI Council Rights and Recovery Campaign will:
- Promote a robust and dynamic approach to Rights and Recovery
- Cultivate and embrace hope for both clients and providers
- Show that all people have rights
- Confirm that the person is in charge
- Present that information is power
- Celebrate that recovery happens
- Promote the value of community
- Redefine the collective perception of recovery, rights and advocacy
- Show that mental illness is only part of a person's life
- Show that mental illness is a part of all of our lives
We're on the Rights road to Recovery . . . let's journey together.
Defined what "rights" and "recovery" means
The Council created the following definitions for the words "rights" and "recovery":
RIGHTS is a universal set of ethical, civil
and constitutional standards. These standards mandate that the mental health system assures equality and equity, accountability and accessibility to promote recovery.
RECOVERY is an interpersonal dynamic process of embracing hope, defining oneself, and participating in meaningful roles in community.
Held a conference to kick-off the Campaign
The Rights and Recovery Campaign Kick-Off was hosted in Columbus at the Hyatt Regency on March 24, 2004. Throughout the day, participants from all over Ohio learned and taught each other about the natural relationship between rights and recovery and the role of advocacy to achieve both. Read a summary about the event: Voices Heard at the PAIMI Council's Rights and Recovery Campaign Kickoff
After the event, an open letter was written to the Governor of Ohio and the Director of the Ohio Department of Mental Health. The letter summarized the comments and experiences of the people who attended the event and focused on the areas of improvement that are needed in Ohio's public mental health system. Read the letter: Open Letter to Governor Taft and Director Hogan (May 2004)
Created several publications
Two publications and a video were created during the Campaign.
- Advocacy System Study: Advocacy — A Bridge from Rights to Recovery
- Rights Handbook: Your Mental Health Rights: How They Protect and Support Your Recovery
- Rights Video: "It's Your Right! Rights in the Mental Health System for People Who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing," [Order by contacting OLRS by phone, e-mail, or regular mail.]
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