Mental Health Recovery
What does recovery mean in mental health?
Mental Health recovery can mean many different things to different people. The World Health Organization defines mental health as "a state of mental well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realize their abilities, learn and work well, and contribute to their community. It has intrinsic and instrumental value and is a basic human right." With hope as its leading principal, recovery in mental health focuses on empowerment, communal support (from family, friends, community, professional services, etc.), meaningfulness and discovery. There is no singular definition of recovery and it can be described as a journey, one that is not always straight forward, has roadblocks, u turns, pit stops, road maps and signposts.
The difference between "clinical" and "personal" recovery is important to our work. Clinical recovery is an idea that has emerged from the expertise of mental health professionals and involves the alleviation of symptoms, a restoration of social functioning and a return to what is considered “normal”. Personal recovery, on the other hand, is an idea stemming from the lived experience of those who have expertise in mental health challenges. While clinical recovery can be important to someone's personal recovery, that is not always the case. Personal recovery in mental health is determined by the individual and discovered by that person's needs, wants and aspirations. Recovery is for everyone, and is not limited to those who identity with specific or diagnosed conditions. Recovery is not only for individuals but for whole groups and communities as well!
Click the button below to read more about mental health recovery from Mental Health Ireland's co-produced guide to mental health recovery.
Recovery Education
How are Recovery Models used in Recovery Education?
Recovery Education is a process that acknowledges
the uniqueness of each person and their mental
health journey. It facilitates the opportunity to
discuss, investigate, explore, and share ideas,
knowledge, and experience on a personal and/or
professional level. It encourages the acceptance of
individuality. Recovery Education in Ireland is currently guided by the four principles (see below) outlined in the
National Framework for Recovery in Mental Health
2018-2020.
Adopting a strengths-based and adult education
approach, it provides individuals with the choice to
participate in various learning opportunities. Guided
by values such as self-direction, lived experience, coproduction, and diversity, Recovery Education can be
facilitated from a central location or hub commonly
known as a Recovery College (HSE, 2017).
Alternatively, it may be offered in various
community settings, referred to as a Recovery
Education Service.
Click the button below to learn more about Ireland's National Framework for Recovery in Mental Health.
Diversity
Because recovery education values lived experience and mental health journeys are specific to individuals, it's very important to welcome diversity into learning spaces. Diversity in recovery education helps create an welcoming and open space for everyone to share their diverse experiences, knowledge and ideas.
Experiential
Recovery education is experiential because it values methods of learning that focus on experiences and learning from peers. The unique needs and experiences of those learning guides the educational experiences of learning from peers and those with lived experience.
Co Produced
Co-production means creating learning materials together with the people they are intended for. Our workshops are developed in partnership with young people, family members, individuals with lived experience, and mental health professionals. This collaborative approach is a core part of mental health recovery education.
Values Lived Experince
Key to recovery education is the valuing of lived experience. This means that every person's lived experience of their own mental health challenges or their support of family or friends in their mental health challenges, is important and valuable. Because recovery in mental health is a personal journey, highlighting the lived experiences of those with mental health journeys is important. Each of our lived experiences offer insight and expertise into possible pathways to mental health recovery.
Equality
The principal of equality is central to recovery education. Each individual's expertise and experience is valued equally and everyone has ability and voice to engage, share and learn. Ideas, insights, suggestions and experience is valued equally between all participants, whether you are someone with lived experience, a mental health professional, educator or active learner.
Self-Direction
Self- direction refers to the practice of having education be led by those learning. Learners choose what is most important and how to learn. Discovery and curiosity are important elements of recovery education and are fostered by the pillar of self-direction.
Want to see these principals in action?
Click the button below to view our programs and education materials putting recovery education in action.
Want to Know More?
Check out some of our resources on our Resources page below. If you'd like to get involved with Recovery Education for young people, reach out to us at the Discovery College. Click the Get Involved button below if you have any questions or want to get involved with Co Production or recovery education.