"PSWH creates an exciting new role for peer specialists who have historically been primarily focused on mental health, because it promotes self-directed resiliency and whole health improvement," said Larry Fricks, director of ACG, who was instrumental in the development of the PSWH concept in close collaboration with the Georgia Mental Health Consumer Network. "Magellan's work to expand this transformational approach to mental health throughout the country is testament to its commitment to improving the lives of individuals served by the public mental health system."

"Peer specialists can empathize with individuals and establish a strong bond that increases the likelihood an individual will succeed in his or her recovery. Now, as a result of the PSWH training, peer specialists are ideally positioned to also help an individual reach his or her total health and wellness goals," Lane explained.

Magellan to expand PSWH training

Magellan, which was among the first companies in the behavioral health field to recognize the pivotal role of peer specialists in supporting individuals with mental illness, plans to conduct PSWH training for all of its public sector contracts and is developing groundbreaking ways to measure its impact on overall health outcomes.

The PSWH training was developed through the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD) Technology Transfer Initiative (TTI) grant, awarded to Georgia's Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities and funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

SOURCE Magellan Health Services, Inc. and Appalachian Consulting Group