Staying Well Plan

Purpose of a Staying Well Plan

A staying well plan, also known as a wellness action plan or recovery action plan, is a personalized, practical tool designed to help individuals maintain their mental health and wellbeing. It's particularly useful for those who have experienced mental health challenges or are in recovery from mental illness.

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Key Components of a Staying Well Plan

1. Triggers:

   • Identify specific situations, events, or circumstances that might negatively impact the client's mental health.

   • Examples: Work stress, relationship conflicts, financial pressures, seasonal changes.

2. Early Warning Signs:

   • List observable changes in thoughts, feelings, or behaviors that indicate the client's mental health may be deteriorating.

   • Examples: Sleep disturbances, changes in appetite, increased irritability, social withdrawal.

3. Coping Strategies:

   • Detail effective methods the client has used in the past or new techniques they've learned to manage stress and maintain wellbeing.

   • Examples: Mindfulness exercises, physical activity, creative pursuits, social connections.

4. Support Network:

   • Identify key people (friends, family, professionals) who can offer support when needed.

   • Include contact information and specific ways these individuals can help.

5. Daily Wellness Practices:

   • Outline routine activities that contribute to the client's overall wellbeing.

   • Examples: Regular sleep schedule, balanced diet, daily exercise, medication adherence.

6. Crisis Plan:

   • Provide clear steps to take if the client experiences a mental health crisis.

   • Include emergency contact numbers, preferred treatment facilities, and any advance directives.

7. Achievements and Strengths:

   • List personal strengths, past successes in managing mental health, and positive affirmations.

   • This section helps build resilience and maintain a positive outlook.

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Creating the Plan

• The plan should be developed collaboratively between the client and a mental health professional.

• It's typically created at the beginning of treatment to establish a baseline and updated throughout the intervention process.

• A final version is often completed at the end of treatment to support ongoing self-management.

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Characteristics of an Effective Plan

• Concise and clear language

• Personalized to the individual's specific needs and experiences

• Easily accessible (e.g., stored on a smartphone or printed copy)

• Regularly reviewed and updated as needed

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Benefits of a Staying Well Plan

1. Empowers the client to take an active role in managing their mental health

2. Provides a structured approach to identifying and addressing potential issues early

3. Enhances self-awareness and promotes proactive self-care

4. Serves as a communication tool between the client and their support network

5. Can reduce the severity and duration of mental health relapses

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Implementation and Follow-up

• Encourage regular review and practice of the plan, even when the client is feeling well.

• Integrate the plan into daily life through reminders or routine check-ins.

• Ensure all members of the client's support team are familiar with the plan and their role in it.

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Resources like the Mind UK's Wellness Action Plan provide excellent templates and guidance for creating comprehensive staying well plans. These resources often include prompts and questions to help individuals thoroughly explore each component of the plan.

Remember, while these plans are invaluable tools, they should be used in conjunction with, not as a replacement for, professional mental health care when needed.