1.13 (V) Recovery perspective
[MUSIC] We live in a world where some people experience extreme mental distress. Our communities have always included people who hear voices, see visions and have uncommon beliefs. There have always been individuals among us who become overwhelmed by their sadness, elation, and fears. Some people understand these intense human experiences as having a particular meaning. For example, a cultural or spiritual meaning. Many feel that their distress is linked to their childhood or past trauma. Others link their distress to issues in their current life. Some people believe that mental distress is a medical illness that can be genetically inherited and involves changes in the brain chemicals. Many others believe that extreme mental distress can happen as a result of a combination of all of these factors or any of them. A highly influential approach to mental health care is based on the concept of personal recovery. Personal recovery is different to clinical recovery. It focuses on the ability of a person to live the life they want to live, a life with meaning and purpose, regardless of whether they are experiencing signs of distress. It is less about the elimination of symptoms using medication although this may play a role. The recovery approach is not a one size fits all treatment. Each person's recovery is unique and holistic. This approach focuses on what a person wants for their mental well being, physical health, spiritual life, working life, and material life. It includes pursuing personal interests, values, and goals. Personal recovery is about realizing personal identity and cultural identity. It involves a person taking on the role they want to play in their family, friendships and communities. An important part of recovery philosophy is that mental stress is not seen as a sickness. This is why you will not hear me use the term mental illness. Instead mental distress is viewed as a human experience. Admittedly an extreme experience, but a common one. Intense distress has meaning and validity just like other human experiences. And for the vast majority of distressed people, these experiences can be partly understood by looking at traumatic events that they have survived. Personal recovery is achievable for everyone. It recognizes that people have the ability to manage distressing experiences and follow their dreams themselves and with the support of others who they choose to include in their recovery journey. Recovery philosophy challenges traditional roles of mental health services. Generally, the experts on mental distress have been people who have studied it, psychologists, psychiatrists and academics. Recovery philosophy raises the profile of people who have personal, lived experience of mental distress to the point where they are recognized as an invaluable resource. The person using the mental health service is seen as someone to be collaborated with, not directed, an expert on their own life. Recovery philosophy recognizes the right of all people to self-determination, including those of us who experience mental distress. Each distressed person must direct their own lifelong recovery journey. They must decide where to go, the route to take and the speed. Everyone has assets they can draw on during their recovery journey, their own strengths and goals. There is no relapse or backward steps, it is all part of the journey. We can support people in their recovery journey by focusing on what they can do rather than what they can't do. By encouraging them to make decisions and take risks. By helping them see what they have learned during difficult times. And celebrating with them when they succeed. The recovery movement also has a message for society. It causes all to work to change the social stigma and self stigma associated with mental distress. Most of us, at sometime in our lives, have experienced great happiness, sadness, fear, or anger. These are the same emotions experienced by people who receive a mental health diagnosis. Only they experience them more frequently, or for longer periods of time, or in situations that would not upset other people. If we recognize these emotions as familiar, we can empathize with people who live with mental distress and eliminate the stigma that they face. Empathy is a powerful tool against the negative stereotypes in the media and entertainment industry. A mental health diagnosis should never overshadow a person's true identity made up of their life roles, talents, characteristics, and personality. We must take care not to turn a person's diagnosis into their identity. For example, it's okay to say that a person has been diagnosed with schizophrenia or diagnosed with bipolar disorder because these are medical terms to describe a set of experiences. It is not okay to call someone a schizophrenic, a manic depressive, or a borderline. Names like this reduce human beings who have strengths, hopes and dreams into nothing more than a disease. Recovery is definitely possible. Throughout history there have been people who have lived with extreme emotional experiences and achieved great success, such as Isaac Newton and Winston Churchill. Today, the leaders of the recovery movement and our peer support workforce are a walking example of recovery, and the Internet is full of the recovery stories of ordinary people. Australia's mental health policy and mental health policies around the world now embrace the ideas and values and practices that support personal recovery. Recovery philosophy contains a powerful message of hope and has the potential to transform lives. [MUSIC]
