I worked in the mental health field for a short time last year. While I was there, I joined a few workshops on personal medicine, which was run by the occupational therapists on staff.
I also happen to have quite a few people in my life who struggle with mental health, and when it came up in conversation, I'd ask them about personal medication, or comment that something they're doing seems like it's a personal medicine for them. Not a single one had heard of this idea before. *I* hadn't heard of it before I worked in the field.
So I wanted to share this. I don't know how many people it will reach, but if this finds even one person it could help, then this post has done it's job.
Patricia Deegan is an American psychologist, a part of the mental health recovery movement, and a researcher in mental health and the recovery process. She was diagnosed with schizophrenia as a teenager and has spent her career trying to revolutionize mental health treatment.
I highly recommend listening to the entire speech, but the part specifically about personal medicine starts at about 39:45
