Wellness Recovery Action Plan

Abstract Abstract This article describes a popular and effective self monitoring and response system that was developed in 1997 by 30 people who attended an eight day mental health recovery skills seminar in Vermont. They developed the system in response to their need for a structured way to use their wellness tools to relieve and eliminate their symptoms, and to stay well. While it was developed by and for people who are dealing with troubling emotional symptoms, the Wellness Recovery Action Plan can be used by anyone to deal with any kind of physical or emotional illness or issue. People who use the plan develop it by identifying tools or responses that will help them to relieve symptoms and/or enhance their wellness. They then use these tools to develop a Wellness Recovery Action Plan that includes: (1) a daily maintenance list, (2) identifying and responding to triggers, (3) identifying and responding to early warning signs, (4) recognizing when things are getting much worse and responding in ways that will help them feel better and (5) a crisis plan or advanced directive. The people who developed this plan emphasize that the plan must be developed by the person who will use it, although they can reach out to their supporters for assistance. Key Words: Self managementself helpmental healthpsychiatric symptomsmental illness