So, you’ve been diagnosed with a mental illness. What happens next? It can be a scary time, not knowing exactly what the diagnosis means and how it could affect your life in the long term. Then the doctor starts talking about recovery, but even that is a word that can take some explaining.
What’s known as “the recovery model” has become a dominant force in mental health care, but what does it mean? Not everyone has the same definition. For some people, it means their symptoms are gone, or at least greatly reduced. For others, it means being able to live their life how they want to achieve personal satisfaction.
Generally, the recovery model concentrates on a broader, more holistic approach to mental health care. Rather than doctors dictating to patients, it allows patients to direct their own treatment based on their wants and needs. The attitude is that recovery is possible, but it may look different for everyone.
You may not be able to cure something like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, but the recovery model states that you can still have a good quality of life. You can still be part of society, and you don’t have to be shut away in an institution. In addition to treating the illness, there’s a focus on things like stable housing; strong and supportive relationships with family, friends and the community; and discovering a meaningful purpose in life.
The recovery model is often held up in contrast to “the medical model”, which focuses on the idea of mental health conditions being illnesses with definitive physiological causes that you can then treat with medication. These two approaches don’t have to be in conflict. Taking aspects from both can provide more comprehensive and effective support for those with mental illness.
Trying to improve the quality of care for people with mental illnesses is an ongoing challenge. Psychologists, psychiatrists, social services, governments, and charities are all constantly working on new ways to help achieve recovery. There’s probably never going to be one absolute solution that works for all people, but that doesn’t mean we can’t continue to make things better.
What is certain is that recovery doesn’t have to be an elusive dream. With the right approach and support and everyone involved working together, mental illness doesn’t have to stop you from living your life.