Putting recovery into action means focusing care on supporting recovery and building the resilience of people with mental health problems, not just on managing their symptoms.
There is no single definition of the concept of recovery for people with mental health problems, but the key idea is one of hope that it is possible for meaningful life to be restored, despite serious mental illness.Recovery is often referred to as a process, outlook, vision, conceptual framework or guiding principle.
The recovery process:
- provides a holistic view of mental illness that focuses on the person, not just their symptoms
- believes recovery from severe mental illness is possible
- is a journey rather than a destination
- does not necessarily mean getting back to where you were before
- happens in ‘fits and starts’ and, like life, has many ups and downs
- calls for optimism and commitment from all concerned
- is profoundly influenced by people’s expectations and attitudes
- requires a well organised system of support from family, friends or professionals
- requires services to embrace new and innovative ways of working
The recovery model aims to help people with mental health problems to move beyond mere survival and existence, encouraging them to move forward and carry out activities and develop relationships that give their lives meaning.
Recovery emphasises that while people may not have full control over their symptoms, they can have full control over their lives. Recovery is not about ‘getting rid’ of problems. It is about seeing people beyond their problems, recognising and fostering the opportunities that harness their abilities, interests and dreams. Mental illness and social attitudes to mental illness often impose limits on people experiencing ill health. Recovery looks beyond these limits to help people achieve their own goals and aspirations.
Recovery can be a voyage of self-discovery and personal growth. Experiences of mental illness can provide opportunities for change, reflection and discovery of new values, skills and interests.
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Research has found that important factors on the road to recovery include:
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good relationships
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financial security
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satisfying work
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personal growth
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the right living environment
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developing one’s own cultural or spiritual perspectives
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developing resilience to possible adversity or stress in the future
Further factors highlighted by people as supporting them on their recovery journey include:
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being believed in
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being listened to and understood
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getting explanations for problems or experiences
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having the opportunity to temporarily resign responsibility during periods of crisis
In addition, it is important that anyone who is supporting someone during the recovery process encourages them to develop their skills and supports them to achieve their goals.
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“Too many services fail to empower their users to ‘get their life back on track’ and get back into the community”.
- consultation participant, Mental Health and Social Exclusion, Social Exclusion Unit (2004)
There is a strong link between the recovery process and social inclusion, two of the principles that guide mental health services. A key role for services is to support the inclusion of service users in the communities where they live by making it possible for them to take part in mainstream activities and opportunities. There is a growing body of evidence that demonstrates that accessing social, educational, training, volunteering and employment opportunities can support the process of individual recovery.
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Two approaches that may help are:
WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Plan)
WRAP is a self-management and recovery system developed by a group of people in the US who had mental health difficulties and who were struggling to incorporate wellness tools and strategies into their lives. WRAP is designed to:
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decrease and prevent intrusive or troubling feelings and behaviours
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increase personal empowerment
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improve quality of life
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assist people in achieving their own life goals and dreams
WRAP is a structured system to monitor uncomfortable and distressing symptoms. It can help reduce, modify or eliminate symptoms by using planned responses. These include plans for how an individual wants others to respond when symptoms have made it impossible for them to continue to make decisions, take care of themselves or stay safe. The person who experiences the symptoms develops their personal WRAP, although they may choose to ask the people who support them or health professionals to help them create it.
More information about WRAP
DREEM (Developing Recovery Enhancing Environments Measure)
DREEM is an outcome measure and research tool to see how ‘recovery-oriented’ a service is. It is a self-report instrument that gathers information about mental health recovery from people who receive mental health services. The DREEM asks people where they are in their process of mental health recovery and what markers of recovery they are currently experiencing.
More information about DREEM
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Written in 2007
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