Jean-Pierre Galipeault,Empowerment Connection in Dartmouth

Jean-Pierre Galipeault,owner of the Empowerment Connection in Dartmouth,Nova Scotia,who gave the Committee a sense of the far-reaching implications of adopting a recovery framework:There are different definitions of recovery,but my business,The Empowerment Connection,defines recovery as,“[o]ccurring when a person’s psychiatric diagnosis or emotional and psychological trauma is no longer the central focus in that person’s life,but simply becomes a part of who that person is.” We must remember that people also have to face the task of recovering from the effects of external and internalized stigma,learned helplessness,institutionalization,poverty,homelessness and the wounds of a broken spirit. The histories of people diagnosed with a mental illness are extremely varied;a wide variety of treatments,services and supports can assist recovery. For most consumers of mental health services it is their family physician who is the first,and often only,port of call. Having access to psychiatrists,psychologists,nurses and other health professionals can also make an invaluable contribution to the well-being of people living with mental illness. RETURN.