Paolo del Vecchio is the acting director of the Center for Mental Health Services, which is part of SAMHSA, the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration. During our discussion on Not Alone, Paolo mentioned the importance of the Warm Lines program in providing support, information, understanding, and education for people seeking recovery, and feels that the most effective Warm Lines are staffed by people in recovery who are trained peer support workers. (Region 2 in Nebraska has already taken local leadership in developing this program, and we’re proud of them!)  

Paolo reminded us how peers can help prevent a condition from worsening and can give people the opportunity to heal. Paolo also mentioned how too often we still find stigma getting in the way of healing.  The Center for Mental Health Services is vitally concerned that we improve community based mental health services for people of all ages, and director del Vecchio reminded us that three components for maintaining wellness remain prevention, treatment, and recovery. We also had the opportunity to ask, “What is recovery” and found we were surprised and challenged by his answer!

To hear more from Paolo del Vecchio, listen to the May 29 Not Alone podcast by clicking on the play button below or downloading the file to listen later. To listen to any of the past Not Alone broadcasts, visit The Kim Foundation podcast page.

Listen Now

May 29, 2012 – Paolo del Vecchio

Download

Airing every Tuesday from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. (CST on station KCRO, channel 660 AM based out of Omaha, Neb.), Not Alone is a live talk radio program focused on behavioral health and recovery. Developed by The Kim Foundation through the support of C&A Industries, Inc., Not Alone works to reduce the stigma often associated with mental illness. The show seeks to assure individuals, families, and communities that they are not alone, mental illness affects us all, hosting a variety of guest from across the country.

Be Sociable, Share!

• 

•