Community-based participatory recovery (CPR) model for people with psychosis
Amy Cheung, MD, PhD (1,2), Abaigeal Grant (1), Xiaoduo Fan, MD, MPH (1)
1. UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
2. Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
Background: Serious mental illness (SMI), including schizophrenia spectrum and bipolar disorders, often include psychotic symptoms. Untreated psychosis is correlated with poor outcomes, including loss of independence, psychiatric decompensation, and stigma, which lower the overall quality of life. To combat these poor outcomes, current approaches emphasize the importance of whole person health, addressing social determinants of health, and promoting recovery-oriented interventions. To comprehensively address both individual and community wellbeing, we propose an integration of these frameworks, called the community-based participatory recovery (CPR) model.
Methods: To implement the CPR model, community participation is imperative. Collaborations with local organizations (e.g., mental health centers, small businesses, nonprofits) are vital for creating sustainable programs. Engaging people with lived experiences (and their loved ones) is important for developing programs that address the actual needs of people with SMI. By also engaging medical trainees (e.g., college students, medical students, residents), CPR builds sustainable academic-community partnerships and provides a valuable experience for the next generation of healthcare workers. Programs are then rigorously evaluated using both quantitative and qualitative methods to assess the impact and seek community feedback.
Results: Guided by the CPR model, three initiatives have been developed. The initiatives - Lifestyle as Medicine, Arts and Music, and Early Psychosis Detection and Intervention - focus on different elements of whole person health, with the aim of addressing health inequities, reducing stigma, and facilitating recovery. Each initiative has multiple programs, such as our Food4Thought Program, which provides nutrition education to people with SMI, and our Drama Therapy Program, which promotes mental wellbeing and recovery through the arts.
Conclusions: The CPR model aims to integrate multiple frameworks and create sustainable, recovery-oriented community programs that have been developed collaboratively with community entities, people with lived experience, and medical trainees.