Considerations for the Use of Online Peer Recovery Forums for Individuals with Serious Mental Illness and Substance Use Disorders-Presentation Slides

Presentation Slides

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This document is a presentation summary that discusses the considerations for the use of online peer recovery forums for individuals with serious mental illness (SMI) and substance use disorders. The presentation is part of the Clinical Support System for Serious Mental Illness (CSS-SMI), an initiative funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and implemented by the American Psychiatric Association (APA).<br /><br />The presentation begins by highlighting the potential benefits and risks of social media use in individuals with mental health conditions. It mentions that social media use has been associated with anxiety, depression, social isolation, and sleep disturbance. The presentation then provides suggestions for general social media use, such as limiting time, frequency, and the number of platforms used.<br /><br />It explores the potential for online support in SMI populations, emphasizing the effectiveness of peer support interventions (PSI) and the interests of individuals with mental health conditions in enhancing coping mechanisms, accessing therapy, and improving overall well-being. The presentation also discusses the types of online social support, including instrumental, informational, emotional, and appraisal support, and provides examples of support found in a large alcohol recovery forum.<br /><br />The presentation highlights the dynamics of early engagement and support in online forums and emphasizes the importance of responding to others' posts in sustaining engagement. It provides resources, such as the Networks Enhancing Addiction Recovery Forum Activity Roadmap (NEAR-FAR), that offer educational resources and lists of recovery forums for clinicians and patients.<br /><br />Special considerations for SMI populations are addressed, including the potential impact of online forums on individuals with psychosis or delusions and individuals with borderline personality features. The presentation concludes with "rules of the road" for online forum participation and highlights the landscape of addiction recovery forums, including their activity levels and characteristics.<br /><br />Overall, the presentation provides valuable insights into the considerations and potential benefits of online peer recovery forums for individuals with SMI and substance use disorders.

Keywords

online peer recovery forums

serious mental illness

substance use disorders

social media use

mental health conditions

peer support interventions

online social support

alcohol recovery forum

early engagement and support

special considerations for SMI populations