Pat's Papers & Posters

Download Pat's most widely shared papers on recovery or get inspired with her recovery posters.

Recovery, Rehabilitation, and the Conspiracy of Hope

I wrote this paper about my experience of recovery after being diagnosed with schizophrenia. This paper has defined the major themes of my life's work.

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Prescribing Hope for Recovery

In this short piece, I explore a recovery-oriented approach to prescribing psychiatric medication.

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Wild Indians: Native Perspectives on the Hiawatha Asylum for Insane Indians

This piece by Pemina Yellow Bird explores the history of segregated psychiatric care for first nations people.

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In Our Own Voices: African-American Stories of Oppression, Survival and Recovery in Mental Health Systems

This piece by Vanessa Jackson explores the history of racially segregated hospitals in the US.

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A Job a Paycheck and a Date on a Friday Night 

Recovery means something different to everyone.

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Affirm Dignity

When we support people in making their own choices, we affirm their dignity. This can be deeply healing.

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Changing Our Lives

Recovery means changing our lives, not just our biochemistry

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Clear Away the Debris 

Sometimes all we have to do to grow is clear away the debris.

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Conspiracy of Hope

This poster invites us to join Pat Deegan's Conspiracy of Hope.

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Courage in Recovery

Courage in recovery means putting one foot in front of the other, even if we are afraid.

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Different is OK

There are many ways to be human, and it can be deeply healing to celebrate that.

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Facing the Day

Recovery happens for ordinary people like me and you.

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Flyer of the Kite

I am the flyer of the kite. The kite may dive and hurl about, but I am the flyer of the kite. I remain.

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Hallowed Ground

Distress can be hallowed ground upon which we meet God and receive spiritual teachings.

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Hope

Hope means being willing to walk into tomorrow because each day is a new day

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Human-Hearted 

It's easy to get lost in the work we do. We can remain human-hearted while working in human services.

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I am a person, not an illness

Those of us diagnosed with mental illness are NOT defined by a diagnosis. We are people.

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I am Part of the Solution

Those of us diagnosed with mental illness are not the problem, we are part of the solution.

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I Will Live My Life

When diagnosed with a mental illness, it's important that we live our life, not our diagnosis.

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Illnesses Do Not Recover

This is an important reminder that illnesses do not recover. People do.

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My Dreams are the Stars

We sometimes need a reminder to trust our own dreams to lead us.

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My True Home  

Healing means taking the slow journey of discovering our bodies have transformed into a safe place.

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No One is a Hopeless Case

No one can walk our path for us, but the good news is there is hope. No one is a hopeless case.

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Not Normal

The goal of recovery is to become the unique, never to be repeated individual that we are.

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Transformation not Restoration

Recovery is not always about going back to who we used to be. It's a process of transformation.

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Recovery is a Pathway 

Everyone's path is different. Recovery is a pathway to the life I want for myself.

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Sowing Seeds  

The seeds we sow can take root and grow into change. 

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Stepping Over the Threshold  

It takes a strong and courageous person to step over the threshold into recovery. That person is me.

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Where Biology Meets Individual Biography  

We partner with people where individual biology meets individual biography, that's where the hope is.

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Wide Stream  

Our goal is not to enter the mainstream, but rather to grow a more inclusive wide stream.

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