National Recovery Month: Help available for Oregonians
The impacts of mental health, gambling and substance use disorders are far-reaching, from personal well-being and relationships to the larger community. This National Recovery Month, the Oregon Health Authority reminds Oregonians that the power of recovery is within their reach and that help is available.
To celebrate recovery, OHA partnered with Yamhill County Health and Human Services Department and McMinnville-based peer-delivered services organization, Provoking Hope, to share participants’ recovery stories via video interviews: https://bit.ly/2xUkIs1
Yamhill County provides housing, treatment, counseling and parenting support to men and women in recovery. Certified recovery mentors at Provoking Hope ensure that individuals in recovery are supported by those who have lived experience and can understand their challenges and obstacles.
“Certified recovery mentors are a source of support and hope that few other recovery professionals can replace,” Provoking Hope founder Diane Reynolds said. “They are proof to our clients that recovery is possible and that they can reach their full potential.”
In the video above, five Oregonians recall the hopelessness they experienced while struggling with substance use disorder and the hopefulness and bright futures recovery can reveal. Help is available 24/7, year-round at 800-923-4357 or text RecoveryNow to 839863.
OHA recognizes that peer-delivered services are a key component to improving recovery outcomes in Oregon.
In 2017, almost 9,000 Oregon Health Plan members received peer-delivered services for mental health or substance use disorders. Currently, OHA supports more than 184 recovery homes which serve 1,423 residents who are in recovery in a supportive, sober environment.
“We at OHA value the work that peers do and believe they are a critical part of our behavioral health system,” said Brandy Hemsley, director of the Office of Consumer Activities at OHA. “We look forward to continued partnership with the peer community to ensure they are supported and that there is adequate access to this invaluable resource.”
The Office of Consumer Activities, which is staffed by peers, ensures that the consumer voice is integrated into OHA policies and programs.
OHA’s work to support peer-delivered services include:
A pilot project with the Oregon Department of Corrections to connect inmates with peer recovery mentors to ensure they have the supports necessary for re-entry and sustained recovery; A four-county pilot (HB 4143) to connect overdose survivors with peer recovery mentors who can make connections with service providers upon discharge from the hospital; A partnership with tribal and county behavioral health programs to provide peer support to veterans in recovery; and The Peer Delivered Services Core Team, which brings together OHA staff and peers working around the state to identify barriers and solutions in their work.
