Building Recovery of Individual Dreams and Goals through Education and Support
The Building Recovery of Individual Dreams and Goals through Education and Support (BRIDGES) program was created collaboratively by mental health service users and staff from the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Tennessee, the Tennessee Mental Health Consumers Association, and the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities.
Instruction includes group discussion and structured exercises to teach practical application of information and newly-acquired skills. Topics include mental health recovery principles, brain biology and the operation of psychiatric medications, traditional and non-traditional treatments of mental illness, strategies for enhancing support networks and accessing community support systems, structured problem-solving and communication skills, relapse prevention and coping skills, and independent living skills. Key concepts are illustrated through examples from the lives of the co-facilitators and participants.
Our randomized controlled trial study suggests that BRIDGES is associated with increases in empowerment, self-esteem, self-advocacy, and assertiveness.
Access our published research on the BRIDGES study in our Repository of Research Articles.
Learn more about BRIDGES.
Instruction includes group discussion and structured exercises to teach practical application of information and newly-acquired skills. Topics include mental health recovery principles, brain biology and the operation of psychiatric medications, traditional and non-traditional treatments of mental illness, strategies for enhancing support networks and accessing community support systems, structured problem-solving and communication skills, relapse prevention and coping skills, and independent living skills. Key concepts are illustrated through examples from the lives of the co-facilitators and participants.
Our randomized controlled trial study suggests that BRIDGES is associated with increases in empowerment, self-esteem, self-advocacy, and assertiveness.
Access our published research on the BRIDGES study in our Repository of Research Articles.
Learn more about BRIDGES.