חוכמת המעשה: "ספר להם, ספר להם... שאני, החבר הכי טוב שלהם, מתמודד עם מחלת הסכיזופרניה": מסיפור אישי לסיפור של שינוי חברתי בבריאות הנפש

Background: Studies have found that a personal narrative is one of the most effective of various ways to influence mental health stigmas.Aims: To present a model that teaches people with psychiatric disabilities to tell their recovery story in front of various audiences as a means of changing both personal as well as social stigmas.Methods: The model integrates elements of different theoretical and practical knowledge: narrative,social, and therapeutic approaches; the recovery approach in mental health; psycho-educational work; and theories of changing attitudes. What is innovative is the creation of an expanded narrative of the recovery story with the goal of changing attitudes in the target audience as well as bringing about personal change. This model was developed in Amitim Programs- a cooperation of the Israeli Association of Community Centers and the Ministry of Health.Main Findings: The model, presented together with examples of personal stories written by the employees in the Amitim for Rights Program, showed that throughout the process, along with the social change of modifying attitudes among target audiences, two things changed for the persons with psychiatric disabilities: the narratives that they told themselves (and the people around them)and their self-stigma.Conclusions and Implications for Practice: This practical and methodical model can act as both a tool and a point of reference for other populations that cope with social exclusion, and for any person or organization wishing to facilitate social change through personal narratives.