Recovery-based approaches to supporting each other
Recovery-based approaches to mental health recognise that we can all recover from a mental health crisis and live a “meaningful and satisfying life”.[22] Such approaches are person-centred and focus on our individual strengths, acknowledging the “variety and complexity of our lives”.
As the Scottish Recovery Network states:
“We are more than our mental health problems or diagnosis”.[23]
Recovery-based approaches centre social networks of support as a key part of maintaining good mental health. A systematic review of 97 research papers showed that certain factors were important to recovery.[24] Several of these represent exactly what LGBTI community groups and organisations help others do; build connections,
find meaning and purpose, and positively construct our identities.[25]
Applying recovery-based approaches does not necessarily mean that wellbeing must be the focus of a social group. We can embed wellbeing into other activities by thinking consciously about these, using active listening, and using empowering and inclusive language.
Focus on people’s hopes, dreams and aspirations, their strengths and self-defined goals.[26] All too often, the emphasis is on ‘deficits’ and ‘illness stories’ because this tends to be how we can get help from services – telling this story becomes deeply engrained and can be damaging.[27]
Instead, try different ways of exploring mental health positively. Examples include:
- Using art to help people express themselves e.g., drawing your hopes, dreams and aspirations – this is a way to explore someone’s interests in a positive and creative way rather than focussing on obstacles and barriers.
- Getting involved with local campaigning and activism. This contributes directly towards creating meaning and purpose in someone’s life which can improve mental health.
- Creating a space to check in with each other such as a regular coffee morning (this could be virtual) where everyone checks in and asks how each other is doing. This could be a simple chat over a cuppa or a guided morning meditation.
- Linking people with other groups and people within their communities. This builds the skills of people and cements their place in the local community.
- Asking what things people would like to do and see in their community and then making that happen. This is empowering and creates a sense of ownership for the community.
- Activities that contribute towards improving mental health or self-care, for example, organising accessible exercise or yoga classes, a mindfulness course, or skills-building classes (gardening, cooking, confidence-building etc.)
Footnotes
- ‘What’s next for recovery? Findings from a national engagement’ (PDF). [Accessed 08/05/2021] (Return to reference [22])
- ‘What’s next for recovery? Findings from a national engagement’ (PDF). [Accessed 08/05/2021] (Return to reference [23])
- PEER2PEER Project Partners (2015) Peer2Peer Vocational Training Course. [Accessed 08/05/2021] (Return to reference [24])
- PEER2PEER Project Partners (2015) Peer2Peer Vocational Training Course. [Accessed 08/05/2021] (Return to reference [25])
- PEER2PEER Project Partners (2015) Peer2Peer Vocational Training Course. [Accessed 08/05/2021] (Return to reference [26])
- PEER2PEER Project Partners (2015) Peer2Peer Vocational Training Course. [Accessed 08/05/2021] (Return to reference [27])
