What do people think of the recovery model in mental health?
The recovery model is not a method of treatment, but an approach to treatment and the mental health sufferer, which demands of the sufferer that they believe in the possibility of recovery, of being able to lead a fulfilling life, as well as the professionals accepting the individual as a competent adult who is able to lead a fulfilling life. Many approaches (particularly such psychotherapeutic orientations as Self Psychology, Psychosynthesis, et al) have always worked from this assumption, but the recovery model is more particularly about applying this within psychiatric institutions, organisations and services. If the service holds firmly to the belief that the individuals can recover, this changes a great deal of how people are dealt with. I think it’s essential. We know, from research conducted over 30 years ago, that within education a child’s performance is strongly correlated to whether the teacher believes that the child can do well. It is no different for adults, whether it’s
