Glyn's story goes global at California conference

Glyn Butcher, who is a former volunteer for Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust (RDaSH) and sits on its User Carer Partnership Council, has been involved with mental health services for 14 years as a service user, and for over 27 years as a carer.

His life has been transformed by using Wellness Recovery Action Planning (WRAP), a self-management recovery approach that RDaSH provides to service users and carers across all of its services.

WRAP was originally developed by people experiencing long-term mental health issues. It was designed to decrease symptoms, increase personal responsibility and improve quality of life, by placing people at the centre of their care, and enabling them to make their own decisions about who they want to assist and support them.

It is now successfully used by people all around the world with other health related conditions, and is used as a framework by a wide range of support groups, agencies and organisations.

After hearing Glyn's recovery story, WRAP founder Mary Ellen Copeland will use parts of it in her keynote address at the 'WRAP Around the World Conference' in California later this month, which will bring together people in recovery, peer specialists, professionals, and supporters from all around the world.

Glyn said: "Instead of living a life determined by an identity of mental illness, believing that it was in control of me, I've realised that I am more than a mental illness.

"Mary Ellen said she thinks my work is so strong that it should be shared with as many people as possible, so I'm delighted that my story will be shared at the conference."   

Glyn's mentor at RDaSH, CPA practice development lead Steve Tathata said: "Glyn's story of recovery and how he has overcome many challenges in his life has already proved inspirational to hundreds of people in our region

"He is a terrific example of how people can change and achieve great things, if given the opportunity and the environment in which to do it."