Dialogue for Recovery is a new NMHA program, aimed at enhancing
communication between doctors and patients about treatment goals,
medication side-effects and other quality of life issues affecting
the recovery of individuals diagnosed with serious mental
illness.
With a Dialogue for Recovery, consumers of mental health services
and their doctors can find the right combination of medications and
community support that will best serve these individuals in their
recovery.
Why is there a need for Dialogue for Recovery?
NMHA developed Dialogue for Recovery to raise awareness of the
need for regular communication between patients and doctors about
medication side-effects.
What are the components of the Dialogue for Recovery
program?
The Dialogue for Recovery program utilizes several resources to
facilitate communication between patients and their doctors.
A new, user-friendly tool, called the Antipsychotic Side-effects
Checklist, or ASC. ASC is designed to help patients and their
doctors easily identify and communicate about medication
side-effects by encouraging them to “ASC” the right
questions, so they can determine which side-effects are most
bothersome and whether the treatment needs to be modified.
Other program components include: a brochure and wallet card on how
patients can discuss side-effects with their physicians, a
physician fact sheet, a family and friends guide, and a video
featuring patients building relationships with their physicians and
on their road to recovery.
Program componants, as well as other useful, free, downloadable
resources are available at NMHA.org. Go to the Dialog for Recovery
page of the NMHA website. To order or for more information please
contact 800-969-NMHA (6642) or email: infoctr@nmha.org.
