The Recovery Process

The recovery model in mental health involves the holistic view of health which is the idea of putting the person first instead of focusing on their symptoms. The recovery process is not a straight road, it has its ups and downs.

This model requires a lot of commitment and patience from people with mental illness. However, this recovery process calls for a group effort instead of just the individual, it includes health care professionals, family members, friends and also the community. The recovery process allows a person with mental illness to see beyond survival and existence. It looks at the goals and vision of people with mental illness and weave these goals and dreams into their life. It provides the skills to achieve these goals and give their life meaning.

The model stress that people with mental illness cannot entirely control their symptoms but they can have control over their life and their outlook on it. Recovery is not removing problems from the person’s life but looking beyond them and working through them. There is still space for aspirations and relationships. In recovery, it is important to not let the illness consume the lives of people with mental illness.

The traditional model of recovery does not enhance the lives of people with mental illness instead it limits them. Usually, in this traditional model of recovery, health care professionals have decreased expectations of the people they are treating and family members can be overly involved and protective over the lives of people with mental illness. This does not give the person with mental illness the autonomy to make decisions about their own recovery. The recovery model of mental health provides accountability on the part of the person suffering from a mental illness. Growth and self-discovery can be expected in recovery if one is willing to put in the work. Experiences of mental illness can provide a chance for change and discovering new skills and interests.

Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4418239/

Mental illness is not an obstacle in different parts of our lives, the illness does not consume our lives. In the handout, identify areas of your life that mental illness is not an obstacle to. Examples are family, friends and work. There are spaces in your life for different things that you enjoy. Identify these areas.

Recovery vision: https://www.dropbox.com/s/xx79u079lzhkpib/5. 280514 My Recovery Vision.pdf?dl=0

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