The Illness Management and Recovery (IMR) curriculum was developed by Dartmouth. It is strong on management of symptoms and whatever the mental illness is. The practitioner guide states, “Recognizing that you have a mental illness can be helpful, but is not a pre-requisite for participating in the IMR program. Respect consumers’ opinions and seek common ground to facilitate working together.” But the motivational strategy is to “help consumers recognize how learning more about mental illnesses can help them achieve their personal recovery goals.”

The sessions are 45 to 60 minutes long and generally last from 3 to 6 months. In Hawaii the name of the evidence based practice was changed to be more recovery-oriented: Development of Illness Management and “Self-Directed” Recovery. In the early process of implementation consumers voiced a concern about the standard wording of “Illness Management and Recovery” used in the EBP project. The Office of Consumer Affairs and Adult Mental Health Division advocated that the name be modified to better reflect the consumer guided philosophy of this EBP. The overall consensus was that the official name should be altered to Illness Management and “Self-Directed” Recovery. Embodying the commitment to the individualized nature of the recovery process, the name change has been adopted and embraced by the EBP project. The manual contents were not changed.

The manual is less strong on person-centered recovery language that many people in Michigan have become so used to hearing. Many of the guides and handouts use “you” language, instead of “I” language. This is important as it sets the tone for the attitudes of the practitioners. There is a simpler alternative version, if a person is looking at different options.

The IMR curriculum includes these 10 recovery strategies:

Recovery strategies Practical facts about mental illnesses Stress vulnerability model and treatment strategies Building social support Using medication effectively Drug and alcohol use Reducing relapses Coping with stress Coping with problems and persistent symptoms Getting your needs met by the mental health system

There are fact sheets about some mental illnesses, but not all. There are usable goal sheets that can be filled out. Much of the goal discussion happens when there is a problem to be solved; this means that goal setting is taught as problem solving.

There are homework topics for each section. The practitioner helps course attendees pick something suitable for them to do. Sometimes it is helping people get comfortable with recovery strategies. Sometimes it is goals oriented, etc.

This course could be dynamically taught by people who are in recovery. Currently that is not a requirement in the State of Michigan.

The Goals of IMR:

Inspire people to become hopeful about their recovery Prepare people to be informed decision-makers about their treatment Help people gain more of a sense of mastery over their mental illness Free people up to spend less time dealing with their psychiatric disorders and more time enjoying life Help people set and make progress towards personal recovery goals Teach people about psychiatric illness and its treatment Teach people how to use medication effectively Help people develop relapse prevention plans Teach people strategies for coping with their mental illnesses

Session participants are encouraged to involve any natural supports they have in the IMR program. Natural support systems can helpful in many ways. They can attend some sessions, help with homework, help develop and be a part of relapse prevention plans, help think of and assist session participants in achieving their goals.