Research watch: recovery as a personal journey: how mental health services are trying to support it
| Published date | 23 November 2012 |
| Date | 23 November 2012 |
| Pages | 169-174 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/20428301211281014 |
| Author | Sue Holttum |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care |
Research watch: recovery as a personal
journey: how mental health services are
trying to support it
Sue Holttum
Abstract
Purpose – This Research Watch seeks to summarise two recent research papers at the forefront of
research on recovery.
Design/methodology/approach – A search was carried out for research papers with a mental health
and social inclusion focus published within the past 12 months.
Findings – The first paper summarises the way 87 different research studies describe recovery from
asking people about their recovery experiences. Recovery seems to be about connecting with others,
finding hope, being able to think of ourselves positively, finding meaning in life, and control over our
lives. The second paper describes two major research projects supporting change in mental health
services’ approach to recovery in England – ImROC and REFOCUS. It also discusses major challenges,
including professional values and training, and highlights the value of disability rights and human rights
legislation. A key message is that enabling the full participation necessary for personal recovery
requires the support of the wider society and community.
Originality/value – The first paper is the first to pull together numerous studies of recovery as a
personal journey rather than cure of symptoms. Services need to know moreabout this view of recovery,
so they can measure all relevant outcomes. The second paper describes two research projectsat the
forefront of enabling services to support personal recovery.
Keywords Mental health, Recovery, Hope, Meaning, Identity, Empowerment, Control,
Mental health professional, Disability rights, Human rights, United Kingdom, Mental illness
Paper type Literature review
Recovery as a personal journey
The first paper by Leamy et al. (2011) begins with a much-quoted definition of
recovery by Anthony (1993). Professor Anthony specialises in rehabilitation at Boston
University and he drew his definition of recovery from awareness of personal accounts of
people with experience of mental distress and from his work in rehabilitation. He defines
recovery as:
A deeply personal, unique process of changing one’s attitudes, values, feelings, goals, skills,
and/or roles. It is a way of living a satisfying, hopeful, and contributing life even with limitations
caused by illness.
However, as Leamy et al. point out, no one had yet pulled together the numerous research
studies published in the English language that have actually asked people how they recover.
This is what these researchers do. They selected carefully which research papers to include,
in that papers had to:
Bclearly describe personal recovery;
Bprovide a new view of personal recovery;
Beither have at least three research participants or summarise other research that had
participants;
DOI 10.1108/20428301211281014 VOL. 16 NO. 4 2012, pp. 169-174, QEmerald Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 2042-8308
j
MENTAL HEALTHAND SOCIAL INCLUSION
j
PAGE 169
Sue Holttum is based at
Canterbury Christ Church
University, Canterbury, UK.
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