Whole Health Action Management
Whole Health Action Management (WHAM) is an approach for enhancing physical health of people with mental health and substance use challenges. It is especially useful for people with chronic health conditions such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and other medical conditions. It was developed by people in recovery from behavioral health conditions.
Through WHAM training, people learn how to develop and use wellness self-management skills, including person-centered planning to identify strengths and supports for enhancing health and well-being. Participants also identify a whole health goal, along with a weekly action plan to attain the goal. They participate in weekly peer support groups and one-on-one meetings where they learn to create new health behaviors by following their weekly action plans. They also learn to use a technique called the relaxation response to manage stress, and develop cognitive skills to avoid negative thinking.
Our randomized controlled trial study of WHAM suggests that it improves patient activation, perceived general medical health, hopefulness, and likelihood of paid employment among participants.
Access our published research on the WHAM study in our Repository of Research Articles.
Learn more about WHAM Facilitator Training.
Through WHAM training, people learn how to develop and use wellness self-management skills, including person-centered planning to identify strengths and supports for enhancing health and well-being. Participants also identify a whole health goal, along with a weekly action plan to attain the goal. They participate in weekly peer support groups and one-on-one meetings where they learn to create new health behaviors by following their weekly action plans. They also learn to use a technique called the relaxation response to manage stress, and develop cognitive skills to avoid negative thinking.
Our randomized controlled trial study of WHAM suggests that it improves patient activation, perceived general medical health, hopefulness, and likelihood of paid employment among participants.
Access our published research on the WHAM study in our Repository of Research Articles.
Learn more about WHAM Facilitator Training.