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| Rehab Matters 2013 pg. 14-15 |
The internationally awarded Life
Recovery Program is featured in Rehab Matters, which
is part of the Vocational Rehabilitation Association of Canada (VRA
Canada). It is the leading national organization representing and
advocating for vocational rehabilitation professionals.
You can see the original article here
The Life Recovery Program: Filling
in the Gaps with Web-Based Treatment and Support for Addiction and
Mental Health Issues
Today, there is increased awareness about addiction and mental
health issues—people are starting to be more open about their experiences with
depression and anxiety. But while awareness is on the rise and words like "absenteeism" and "presenteeism" are becoming part of the workplace vernacular- we still have a long way to go before these issues are adequately met.
In terms of some of the service gaps in the current health system, a majority of people don't seek help, often citing access issues to treatment, financial reasons or because they're afraid of the stigma associated with treatment and fear the repercussion of what their friends, family or employer might think
One U.S. study found that the delay
between the first onset of symptoms of a mental health issue and when people
seek and receive treatment can be as long as decades. The study found that
because 75 per cent of lifelong mental illnesses start before the age of 24,
many people adopt unhealthy coping strategies, including using substances. This
means that addiction issues are high among this population group. This can lead
to other problems, such as loss of job and home, destroyed relationships, and
even death.
Research is increasingly backing the use
of online programs to provide treatment for mental health and addiction issues.
Such programs are easy to access, avoid the stigma associated with in-person
treatment, and let the individual make progress at their own pace.
John A. Cunningham and colleagues (2010)
affirm that trials of computer-based interventions for different health
behaviours and interventions provide “significant evidence for their efficacy.”
A meta-analysis also suggests that minimal contact, computer-delivered
treatments—that can be accessed online—may represent a cost-effective means of
treating uncomplicated substance use problems and related issues (Rooke, et
al).
Web-based Treatment and Support
The Life Recovery Program (LRP, www.liferecoveryprogram.com) is an internationally awarded online,
video-based program that provides trauma-informed, psycho-education and support
to people with addiction and mental health issues, as well as to their friends
and family.
The program is aimed at persons with
issues such as substance abuse, behavioural or process addictions,
self-cutting, disordered eating, gambling, toxic relationships, anger, managing
chronic stress, trauma, and impulse control issues.
It’s informed by the latest research and
integrates materials and resources used by many inpatient addiction treatment
centres. It also takes a holistic approach to the individual’s needs, and looks
at the biological, spiritual, and psychosocial influences of addiction.
Paul Radkowski, CEO/Clinical Director of
the LRP, came up with the concept of an online recovery program while working
as a psychotherapist in the Northwest Territories, where traditional support
for mental health and addiction issues was very difficult to access.
How the Program Works
The Life Recovery Program defines
addiction as any behaviour a person can’t stop, resulting in destructive
consequences. This can mean substances as well as behaviours or processes, such
as self-cutting, disordered eating, gambling, toxic relationships, even anger.
The program is based on cognitive
behavioural therapy (CBT) approaches and other evidenced informed modalities
that have been proven to reduce symptom severity. This includes the use of
various self-regulation skills training resources, all of which are foundational
for recovery. The web-based format allows people to access the program anytime,
when they need it, wherever they are.
Throughout the program, clients download
homework that allows them to practice and review new coping strategies for
their mental health and addiction issues. They also receive weekly emails that
encourage actions such as finding an accountability partner, summaries and
reminders of key messages from the latest lesson, and videos.
They can also join an interactive
peer-support forum that allows participants to interact anonymously with others
in the program. This clinician-moderated forum is a way for people to find
support and resources for the mental health and addiction issues they’re
facing.
The program uses the most recent research
findings in the field of neuroscience and neurobiology to help explain to
clients the effect that addictions, stress, and impulse/control issues have on
thoughts, feelings, and behaviour.
Challenges: Misconceptions About the
Program
There’s a misconception that LRP is
providing e-counselling and live video exchange with a counsellor, but this
online program doesn’t aim to replace traditional treatment options. It’s
designed to fill current service gaps—not to replace existing treatment approaches.
The Life Recovery Program can be used by a
variety of people for many different purposes, such as support for someone
waiting for treatment, those who want anonymity, or who are unable or not ready
to have face-to-face treatment. It can be used to prevent relapse or as support
for someone coming out of treatment.
The Outcomes
A content analysis of the LRP peer-support
forum revealed that more than 80 per cent of participants were able to view
their lives differently, regulate their moods, and developed new ways of coping
to stop or decrease their addictive behaviours. Among active members, 27 per
cent chose to sign up and pay to go through the entire six-month
program (which remains
available for one year) for a second time, decreasing their likelihood of
relapse.
Participants also noted that they
increased their use of alternative resources, such as support groups and
therapists.
Paul
Radkowski has been speaking with Employee Assistance Providers, insurance
organizations, government agencies, and treatment centres that are looking for
a more cost-effective way to address these issues. "It's a ‘more for less’
model, which provides more bang for one's buck. It's different than
e-counselling, so it makes it even more cost-effective. These are 24/7 issues
requiring a 24/7 solution; and as it turns out, the Life Recovery Program
can improve lives while saving money," explains Radkowski.
The Life
Recovery Program is unique in its delivery and customizability. Some agencies
have expressed interest in customizing the Life Recovery Program into
mini-programs. This would enable clients to choose their topic of interest from
a treatment menu addressing issues such as: healthy relationships, anger management,
stress management, grief, boundaries, self-esteem, anxiety, depression, trauma
or PTSD, and relapse prevention. Radkowski goes on to explain, "These are
some of the more common reasons why people seek counselling."
Radkowski
further justifies an online offering by asking, "Einstein said the
definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a
different outcome. Historically some of the gaps in the mental health system
result in people waiting for services. Some of these people may also be dealing
with issues of stigma, lack of support, and not getting the help they need
resulting in them falling through the cracks. Sadly, according to CAMH, only
one third of those who need help actually receive it. It's time to explore all
options and provide alternative and more cost-effective approaches."
The Life Recovery Program
has been peer-reviewed and recognized by the International Association of
Addictions and Offender Counselors’ (IAAOC) for its comprehensiveness and
innovation. In 2008, it received the Outstanding Addictions Professional Award
from the IAAOC. The program was also awarded the very first Outstanding Mental
Health Award from the Ontario Association of Counsellors, Consultants,
Psychometrists, and Psychologists (OACCPP) in 2011. The Life Recovery Program
is also featured in CAMH’s “Fundamentals of Addiction” textbook and cited
as the example of an effective online program in a chapter called “Digital
Future.”
Reference:
- Wang, Philip S., Patricia Berglund, Mark Olfson, Harold A. Pincus, Kenneth B. Wells, Ronald C. Kessler. “Failure and Delay in Initial Treatment Contact After First Onset of Mental Disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication.” Archives of General Psychiatry. 2005; 62(6): 603-613. Available at: http://archpsyc.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=208684
- Cunningham, John A., T. Cameron Wild, Joanne Cordingley, Trevor Van Mierlo, Keith Humphreys. “Twelve-Month Follow-up Results from a Randomized Controlled Trial of a Brief Personalized Feedback Intervention for Problem Drinkers.” Alcohol Alcohol. 2010 May-Jun; 45 (3): 258–262.
- Rooke, Sally, Einar Thorsteinsson, Anne Karpin, Jan Copeland, David Allsop. “Computer-Delivered Interventions for Alcohol and Tobacco Use: A meta-analysis.” Addiction. 2010 August; 105 (8): 1381-1390.
