Recovery refers to the process by which people are able to live a satisfying, hopeful and contributing life even with the limitations caused by a serious mental illness. It is a unique, personal process of changing individual attitudes, values, feelings, goals, skills and/or roles. Recovery involves the development of a new meaning and purpose in individual's lives as they get beyond the catastrophic effects of a serious mental illness.
William Anthony, 1993
- Mostly a process or journey.
- A universal experience to get back what was lost.
- A process of the person - My journey, not yours. It is a solo journey.
- The catalyst for recovery is hope. Recovery begins with hope. Our challenge: How do we grow hope? Hope is something that makes things happen.
- Accelerated by the right quality of care. The quality of the relationship between clinician and [consumer] is vital. The clinician must understand the preference of the person who needs care; there is a paradox - sometimes [consumers] do get better with improper care.
The Recovery process is not new. We have seen the emergence of Recovery services in Ohio as early as 1982 when NAMI was formed and with the introduction of technical assistance for the development of consumer operated services in 1984.
It is time for us to come to an understanding of these forces of good and to begin to identify those strands and weave them together into a pleasing tapestry. We are starting on a three-year journey to begin this process realizing that it will take longer. The timing is right and now is the time to start. The President’s [New Freedom] Commission Report has said that Recovery is the driving force….
- excerpt from Dr. Michael Hogan, Director of the Ohio Department of Mental Health (ODMH), at the Adult Recovery Summit, November 18, 2003
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 the illness.
William Anthony