Discussion Questions for Co-Occurring Disorders

      1. Do you know someone who is living with a co-occurring disorder and not being treated? If so, how do you think you could help them?
      2. Do you know someone who is in recovery from a co-occurring disorder? If so, what were the most helpful factors in their recovery?
      3. Are you surprised to hear that half of all cases of mental illness also involve substance abuse? Why do you think this is the case?
      4. What do you think family members of people with co-occurring disorders go through in trying to live with their loved one? What can they do to help the worst parts of this experience?
      5. Linford Gayle mentioned that the “Wellness Recovery Action Plan” was important to keeping himself mentally healthy. The Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP)

is a program that incorporates hope, personal responsibility, education, self-advocacy and support for people living with mental health problems. It is defined in the book “Wellness Recovery Action Plan,” by Mary Ellen Copeland, Peach Press, 1997. You can learn more about WRAP plans at:

www.mentalhealthrecovery.com.

      It is also discussed at length in another TV show focused on Recovery. You can see this show at:

Recovery TV Show on Mental Health Matters

    . If you are familiar with WRAP plans, what do you think of the value of using them? Why?

  1. Are you familiar with the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) that was mentioned in the show? Do you think that Linford and David’s ground breaking roles (Linford, because he is a consumer and the chair of the commission, and David as the person responsible for making cooccurring disorders an important priority for the MHSA) on the commission that oversees the expendatures of money from MHSA signals what may happen to the public mental health system in the future in California as a result of the MHSA? What is your prediction of what will happen?
  2. Many believe that all eyes are on California in implementation of the MHSA to change mental health care in California. Other states are sure to follow if California has success. What are your hopes and fears for this possibility?

Notes: