1. Wellness Recovery Action Plan
An Overview of WRAP

2. Background
Mary Ellen Copeland, creator of WRAP, first went to a psychiatrist for a deep depression. She fully expected to be fixed so she took his advice without question. She had a negative experience with lithium poisoning. She then began to ask others what they were doing to stay well, and from that information she developed WRAP.

3. Her Key Message Is This:
“You have to take responsibility for your own well being.” Mary Ellen Copeland

4. 5 Key Recovery Concepts Hope Personal Responsibility Education
Self-Advocacy
Support

5. Key Elements of WRAP A Wellness Toolbox Daily Maintenance Plan
Identifying Triggers/Action Plan
Identifying Early Warning Signs/Action Plan
When Things are Breaking Down/Action Plan
Crisis Planning
Post Crisis Planning

6. Wellness Tools
These are the things you do to keep yourself well, and the things you do to help yourself feel better when you don’t feel well. You may have discovered them by yourself or learned them from others. Remember, most wellness tools are:
Simple
Safe
Free

7. Daily Maintenance Plan
Describe how you feel when you feel well
Make list of things you MUST do for yourself every day to keep feeling well
Write a list of things you SHOULD do
Write a list of long term goals you CHOOSE to work towards, and
Small steps to take

8. Triggers TRIGGERS are EXTERNAL EVENTS which may cause symptoms
or unwanted emotions or reactions,
whether from the past or present.

9. Triggers Action Plan
We are going to develop an Action Plan for when Triggers happen to you.
An Action Plan is a list of things you decide ahead of time to do when Triggers cause you to start feeling symptoms or ill.
You can divide your action plan into:
Things I MUST do when triggers happen
Things I MIGHT do if they feel right

10. Triggers Action plan Things I MUST do:
Do everything on Daily Maintenance Plan
Call a supporter and ask them to listen
Things I MIGHT do:
Talk to counselor or sponsor
Vigorous exercise

11. Early Warning Signs
EARLY WARNING SIGNS are INTERNAL FEELINGS in response to triggers and how you perceive them. Early Warning signs can happen for no reason. This may be because many smaller triggers have happened. Even if you feel like there was no trigger, work through your action plan to deal with these feelings.

12. Early Warning Signs Action Plan
We are going to develop an Action Plan for when you are experiencing Early Warnings Signs. Your Wellness Toolbox is an excellent place to find things that help you feel better. You can divide your action plan into:
Things I MUST do when Early Warning Signs are happening and
Things I MIGHT do if they feel right

13. Early Warning Signs Action Plan
Things I MUST do:
Do everything on Daily Maintenance Plan
Call a supporter and ask them to listen
Things I MIGHT do:
Talk to counselor or sponsor
Vigorous exercise

14. When Things Are Breaking Down
This section will be a list of ways that you, AND OTHERS, can tell when you might need more help and support than when you are well. These are Feelings and Actions that you have experienced just before a time of Crisis. This is the last opportunity you have to take action for yourself before Crisis

15. When Things Are Breaking Down
Some Symptoms that others have experienced are listed below.
Circle the ones that apply to you:
Feeling very oversensitive or fragile
Bizarre behaviors
Paranoia
Not feeling, numb
Disassociation

16. When Things Are Breaking Down Action Plan
When Things Are Breaking Down, it may be necessary to rely on your supporters for more help than usual. Your Action Plan should have clear instructions for yourself and your supporters in this time. This may be your last chance to make decisions for yourself before Crisis.

17. When Things Are Breaking Down Action Plan
Below are some steps that others have listed for their Action Plan.
Circle the ones that you think will help you:
Take 3 days off of work and call Doctor
Make yourself accountable to someone to do everything on your Daily Maintenance List and to stay with you through the night
Give car keys, meds, checkbook and cash to supporter for safe keeping

18. Crisis Plan Part 1: What I Am Like When I Am Well:
Describe yourself when you are feeling well.
You may want to look back at your Daily Maintenance Plan for ideas about what to put in this section. Descriptive words might include: Talkative
Quiet
Energetic
Circle the words that are right for you

19. Crisis Plan Part 2: Symptoms
Describe your symptoms that would indicate to others that they need to take over full responsibility for your care and make decisions on your behalf

20. Crisis Plan Part 3: Supporters
List those people you want to take over for you when symptoms you listed above are present.
They can be family members, friends or health care professionals.
Have at least five people on your list of supporters.
You may want to name some people for certain tasks like taking care of your cat.

21. Crisis Plan Part 3: Supporters
Name:_______________________ Connection/Role:_______________ Phone Number:________________

22. Crisis Plan Part 3: Supporters
There may be health care professionals or family members that have made decisions that were not according to my wishes in the past. I do not want the following people involved in my treatment care: Name:_________________________ Why I do not want them involved in my treatment:______________________

23. Settling Disputes Between Supporters
Describe how you want possible disputes settled between supporters. You may want the majority to agree on your treatment plan or someone to make the determination.

24. Crisis Plan Part 4: Medication
List Medications you currently take, why you are taking them and which Doctor prescribes them.
List Meds you would prefer to take…
List Meds that would be acceptable to you if Meds became necessary and why…
List Meds that MUST be avoided and you DO Not want to take and why…

25. Crisis Plan Part 5 and 6: Part 5: Treatments:
List treatments that help…
List treatments that should NOT be used…
Part 6: Community Care/Respite Care
Set up a plan so that you can stay at home or in the community and still get care you need.

26. Crisis Plan Part 7 and 8: Part 7: Treatment Facilities
List where you prefer to be treated or
Hospitalized if that becomes necessary
List the places you wish to avoid
Part 8: Help from Others
List things others can do for you
List what needs done/Who to do it

27. Crisis Plan Part 9 and 10 Part 9: Inactivating The Plan
Describe symptoms, lack of symptoms or other actions…
Part 10: If I Am In Danger
If I endanger me or others, I want…

28. Durable Power of Attorney
You can help assure your Crisis Plan will be followed by signing it in the presence of two witnesses…..
Date of plan…
With the help of…
Signed…
Attorney…
Durable Power of Attorney…Phone…

29. Post Crisis Plan: Timetable to resume responsibilities…
I will know I am out of crisis…
How I would like to feel when…
Post Crisis Supporters List…
If discharged, do you have a safe place…
If not, where can you go…
I would like ____ to take me home…
I would like ____ to stay with me….

30. Post Crisis Plan Things I need to take care of….
Things I can have someone else do…
People and things I need to avoid…
Signs I may be beginning to feel worse…
Medical, Legal, Financial issues ….
People I need to thank…
People I need to apologize to…
Signs that post crisis is over…

31. Post Crisis Plan Changes in the first 4 sections of my WRAP
Changes in crisis plan…
Changes in post crisis plan…
Changes in life goals…
What did I learn from this crisis?
Are there changes I need to make ….
If so, how will I make these changes…

32. Timetable for Resuming Responsibilities
Responsibility_____ Who has been doing this?_____ While I am recovering, ______ can do… When can I resume this….

33. The Key Message Is This:
“You have to take responsibility for your own well being.” Mary Ellen Copeland