1. Recovery

Question 1

What is ‘recovery’?

Answer 1

• recovery is not cure
• recovery is an attitude, a stance, and a way of approaching challenges
• recovery is not a linear journey (rapid gain/relapse)
• each person is subject to different journey of recovery

Question 2

How do we deliver a recovery-oriented MH service?

Answer 2

• acknowledge the strong possibility of a trauma history
• focus on people and their needs (not organisational priorities)
• promote Safe, Choice, Collaboration, Trustworthiness, Empowerment
• help people to regain control, choice and personal responsibility
• reduce/remove coercive practices

Question 3

What is ‘‘recovery in the bin”?

Answer 3

• a user-led group for MH survivors and supporters
• provide ‘recovery’ support to those who wish to regain their lives
• support ppl with mental distress in the context of social justice

Question 4

What is ‘Good Practice Guide (2021)’?

Answer 4

• it challenges the idea that MH care is about Dx and medications
• it emphasises the importance of ‘connection’, ‘meaning’, and ‘centre-stage’
• it helps address the impact of SDOH and its impact on MH, ie relationships, education, employment …

Question 5

What are 10 principles of ‘recovery in the bin’?

Answer 5

1. Recovery approach starts with noble principles (neoliberal ideology), but now operates as cover for coercion, victim-blaming …
2. The ‘recovery star’ or promotion of successful recovery stories censors the truth and oppresses service users
3. We reject market forces and homogenize outcome measurements. Unrecovered is a valid self-definition.
4. We emphasise the ‘Social Model of Madness & Distress’, meaning support where needed and not blaming towards unattainable self-sufficiency.
5. We want a halt to abusive MH assessments.
6. We oppose discrimination
7. We call for diversity of treatments (not one size fits all)
8. We demand professionals work with service users - collaboration
9. We opposite the idea of equalising good QOL as recovery (employment is not cure)
10. We reserve the rights to …

Question 6

How to deal with pain/trauma in recovery?

Answer 6

• invest in working through pain and master the emotional life
• find one’s true vocation/meaning in life

Question 7

What is the current situation of ‘recovery’ in the clinical settings?

Answer 7

• poorly implemented in the clinical system
• overemphasis on biomedical approach, less focus on the meaning of PT’s experiences
• MH laws and coercive practices are not compatible with HOPE and EMPOWERMENT, therefore causing treatment-resistant
• Dx/label of ‘psychosis’ can ruin PT’ relationship/social life (ie, drive away friends)
• The current system is stuck with policy documents/paperwork, and can’t do recovery work with all these issues on.
• It’s up to the students to make changes to their future practices, ie advocate for PT preferences, great referrals/group programs, make real patient empowerment, build hope …

Question 8

What is recovery-oriented language?

Answer 8

• honest
• respectful = building trust & partnership
• avoid stigma label
• avoid subjective, unprofessional views & practices

For example, for a student experiencing MH issues (stress), what a community nurse can do is call ‘Mental Health Line’ and help provide ‘Medical Certificate’