Mental Health America of Virginia The voice of reason in mental health advocacy

Hi, my name is Curt. I'm the online WRAP program manager and I'm also an active user of WRAP. I struggled with mental health for many years, especially during college and the years that followed. WRAP has helped me regain control of my life and might help you gain control of yours (or accomplish whatever goal you may have for mental wellness). I am one of several highly trained WRAP facilitators that will guide online WRAP classes. I hope to meet you soon!

PS: I have a special interest in student and young professional mental health issues. If these are areas that concern you I would love to help you access resources that might help you! Visit the student page on Wellnesswired.org or shoot me an e-mail.

We are now accepting applications for

our eight week WRAP class's.

Please send an e-mail to curt.white@mhav.org including your first name, approximate age, approximate location and the days/times that are convenient for you so we can place you in an appropriate class.

WHAT IS WRAP? The Wellness Recovery Action Plan is an eight week (one class per week) curriculum for mental health peer support groups. WRAP was written by Mary Ellen Copeland and is arguably the most popular and effective structure for mental health peer support groups. WRAP is the official peer support curriculum for the state of Virginia.

WellnessWired's Online WRAP program provides a missing piece in the puzzle of WRAP access and delivery for consumers in the Commonwealth. Many consumers are unable to regularly attend WRAP classes because of geographic isolation and very limited access to transportation. We combine a live in person WRAP group with a video/web conferencing format that allows isolated consumers to participate in WRAP classes. All classes would be led by a Copeland Center trained facilitator. Class size would be within the range recommended by the Copeland Center.

Although an in person meeting is certainly the ideal way to hold WRAP classes we believe flexible access would greatly benefit underserved consumer populations. One of the most valuable things about WRAP class is the support and camaraderie of the group. It is essential that those unable to participate in person still have the benefit of a WRAP group. The web-meeting service we use is impressively user friendly. Anyone with even the most basic computer skill will be able to participate. This is not a webinar platform where only one person is viewable by video and others cannot interact. Our web-meeting service has full desktop sharing and uses a queuing system to let meeting participants take turns presenting (there desktop becomes viewable to others in the meeting). Desktop sharing means that any members who wish to use video conferencing can simply display a video feed on their desktop (facilitators will always have video capability). We have funding to provide video capability on a case by case basis. All participants will have audio (teleconferencing) capability and white board (drawings and other media viewable by all participants) capability. We believe these features provide a level of interactivity and participation never before available.

The Copeland Center has a large volume of resources and information about WRAP. Click on this text or go to the address below for more information about WRAP.

http://www.mentalhealthrecovery.com

"Unlike many traditional mental health interventions, WRAP is intended to help people manage a variety of long-term illnesses, whether or not they choose to receive formal services. In fact, WRAP educators are taught to avoid talking directly about psychiatric diagnoses or using medical or illness-oriented language to frame people's needs. Instead, WRAP emphasizes holistic health, wellness, strengths, and social support. WRAP encourages people to move beyond simply managing symptoms to building a meaningful life in the community by using a highly individualized plan for recovery."
Initial Outcomes of a Mental Illness Self-Management Program Based on Wellness Recovery Action Planning, Judith A. Cook, PhD., Mary Ellen Copeland, Ph.D, Marie M. Hamilton, L.C.S.W., M.P.H Et Al.