COMMUNITY SUPPORT PROGRAM SERVICES

No one is ever prepared for mental illness. Whether one experiences excruciating anxiety; depression; worry or fear; changes in perceptions, beliefs or behavior; or losing hold on the everyday world, these changes have a devastating impact on individuals and their families. Research informs us that with the right medication, skills and supports people can - and do - recover from mental illness. CSP offers an array of recovery-oriented treatment and rehabilitation services designed to help each person find the right balance of supports for his or her needs.

Our mission is to support each individual’s (and family’s) recovery from mental illness so that each person can lead a contributing, integrated and self-directed life. To do this, each client has access to services 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and works closely with a team of professionals that he/she can trust and count on. The Portsmouth and Exeter teams include licensed mental health therapists, psychiatrists and nurses, case managers and other specialists in psychiatric rehabilitation and treatment. Most clients meet with only one or two of the team members, but during difficult times, more support can be obtained from other team members.

Counseling and Therapy
Counseling and therapy is provided in individual, group and family settings by Master's level therapists. A specialized program called DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy) is offered for people who experience unstable moods, harmful behavior, difficulty with intimate relationships and/or occupational functioning.

Illness Management and Recovery (IMR)
IMR is a specific set of services aimed at promoting recovery that are based on thoroughly researched and approved Evidence-Based Practices (EBPs).The program is a series of individual or group sessions that meet weekly to help consumers develop personal strategies for coping with mental illness and moving forward in life. IMR embraces the concepts of recovery, hope, and personal empowerment.

Case Management and Community Support
Case managers help assess a person's skills, strengths and needs in relation to the client’s goal for recovery. Case managers provide both direct and indirect assistance to clients and their families. This assistance may include: connecting clients to resources; helping to expand natural community supports; and providing mental illness management services (MIMS) which support and sustain a person's ability to manage psychiatric symptoms and live an integrated and valued life. The case manager strives to develop the right mix of hope and care; challenge and support; empowerment and responsibility to help each person develop his or her path towards recovery.

Psychiatry and Nursing
Medication evaluation, education and monitoring is available from psychiatrists and psychiatric nurses. Nurses also assist clients with supervised medications, education and referrals to care providers for other health concerns.

Supported Living
The Center operates one eight bed group home, Fairweather Lodge, and several apartments. Our main focus is to assist clients to live independently in the community. We work closely with community landlords and local housing authorities to promote access to affordable housing. Staff are available to provide supports in consumer's homes. We also work with other human service providers to promote transportation resources for clients. In Portsmouth we operate the "TO GO" van shuttle service.

Supported Employment (SE)
Work can be an important part of the recovery process. Supported Employment is a well-defined approach to helping people with mental illnesses find and keep competitive employment within their communities. Participation in the program is based on consumer choice and employment goals are reflective of consumer preferences and strengths. CSP’s SE program is staffed by vocational specialists who have frequent meetings with treatment providers to integrate supported employment with mental health services.

Family Support
Families with mentally ill members sometimes feel alone and overwhelmed. CSP provides education and counseling to families to help overcome problems and enhance relationships. Educational opportunities are offered several times a year through the Seacoast Alliance for the Mentally Ill. We urge families to join the Seacoast Alliance for the Mentally Ill (SAMI) 431-1512, a mutual support, advocacy and educational group. The chapter meets every second and fourth Thursday in the Library of the Community Campus in Portsmouth. More information can be obtained by calling NAMI - New Hampshire at 1-800-242-6264.

Peer Support
CSP works closely with the Seacoast Consumer Alliance, a mutual help and advocacy organization, operated by consumers. The Consumer Alliance, offers an array of support and educational programs to help promote members’ recovery from mental illness. The Consumer Alliance is working on several fronts to help improve services on a local and state level. We strongly encourage all consumers and other interested community members to become involved and learn more about this organization. Their phone number is 427-6966.

The Center also sponsors a Bipolar Support Group for individuals and families which has both an educational component and peer support. It meets in the conference room at the Community Campus at 6:30 on the second Monday of the month.