Giving Back to the Mental Health Community

Philadelphia, PA, February 21, 2006 -- The past few years have been anything but smooth for Jack.  He has been hospitalized for suicidal depression several times and has a dual diagnosis of bipolar disorder and substance abuse.  His hospitalizations have been beneficial since they helped him gain a better understanding of his illnesses. Jack  would pay attention to his depression but then his alcoholism and drug addiction would flare up; or, he would take care of his drinking problem and his depression would intensify.  Jack has more than four years sobriety and credits Belmont Center for Comprehensive Treatment with helping give him a second chance at life.  These days, he has even more reason to be happy -- he has just gotten his own apartment in Germantown after living in transitional housing following his hospitalization.  

His most recent hospitalization was in late October at Belmont where he was treated for clinical depression. After Jack was discharged, he was put in touch with Ted Bunch, MA, MT-BC, Coordinator of Belmont’s Adult Services and Music Therapy Program. Bunch had recently started a Motivational Speakers Program comprised of former patients, and thought that Jack would fit in nicely. The aim of the program is for people in recovery from mental illness to help instill a sense of hope in current patients by sharing information about their road to recovery and how they manage their illness. Patients at Belmont are treated for a wide range of problems, including depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety disorder, substance abuse, dual diagnosis (substance abuse and mental illness), among others.  Bunch and Jack met, and it was clear that Jack would be a terrific motivational speaker. He went through the training and now visits patients several times a week.  

“When I was an inpatient at Belmont, a motivational speaker with similar problems to mine visited with me.  He helped me see that I wasn’t alone and that we all have the power to get our life together.  I knew I wanted to offer the same inspiration to others,” says Jack. 

Jack continues …“the most important tool you need to manage mental illness is hope -- having even a sliver of hope can help get you through anything.”  One of the things he says to patients is “look, not long ago I was sitting where you are now but I learned how to deal with my problems and now I’ve got my own apartment.”   Jack visits patients on two different units at Belmont.  He talks for 20 minutes and then the patients share their feelings.  For Jack, being hospitalized was a blessing.  He says it gave him an opportunity to unlock the secrets of his mental illness and learn how to utilize resources that can help him.  

“The Motivational Speakers Program is a win-win situation,” says Nancy Beck, MA, OTR/L, Director, Belmont’s Rehabilitation and Volunteer Services.  “The speakers get a sense of satisfaction knowing they’re helping others.  They get positive feedback from patients which boosts their self-esteem and helps sustain their recovery.  Patients benefit because they hear firsthand how it’s possible to take charge of your life and that there’s light at the end of the tunnel,” Beck adds.  

The speakers go through training sessions and have to meet specific criteria before joining the program.  The speakers must be out of the hospital for at least three months and are supported by staff while interacting with patients.  Speakers are matched with  patients who are dealing with the same problems, so a speaker with a history of depression is matched with a group of patients suffering from depression.  They work with Bunch to develop a mutually beneficial schedule of when they come to the hospital. This structure also helps in their recovery. Participants can speak one-on-one with a patient, or before a group.  Currently, Belmont has six motivational speakers and the plan is to grow the program. 

The motivational speakers are also part of Belmont’s Recovery Advisory Committee which develops recovery-focussed programming and identifies key issues which are pertinent to inpatients.  The Motivational Speakers Program and the Recovery Advisory Committee are two Belmont activities that are in keeping with the spirit of the recovery initiatives being developed in Philadelphia by the Department of Behavioral Health Services and the Mental Health Association of Southeastern Pennsylvania. 

Belmont Center for Comprehensive Treatment, is the private, free-standing psychiatric hospital of Belmont Behavioral Health, one of the largest, most comprehensive behavioral health systems in Philadelphia, and part of Albert Einstein Healthcare Network. For more information, call 1-800-EINSTEIN or visit www.einstein.edu/belmont.

CONTACT: Judy Horwitz
  Communications Specialist
  Albert Einstein Healthcare Network
215-456-6767  horwitzj@einstein.edu

Publish date: February 21, 2006