What is mental health recovery?

Recovery from a mental illness is the process of getting well, learning your strengths and weaknesses and creating a satisfying life for yourself. Most people who are diagnosed with a mental illness can recover with the right support.

A range of services can help you recover and what’s needed will be different for every person. The sooner you seek help and treatment, the more positive your recovery can be.

Recovery from mental illness is not the same as a cure. Recovery means being able to create and live a meaningful life and contribute to your community, with or without mental health issues. This is sometimes called ‘personal recovery’.

Recovery is about improving your life more generally, not just treatment and management of your symptoms. The process of recovery helps you:

• find hope, and developing self-esteem and resilience
• maintain a positive sense of self
• have a sense of purpose and meaning in your life
• build healthy relationships
• gain independence
• understand your skills and limitations

What is the ‘recovery approach’ to mental health?

The ‘recovery approach’ to mental illness is about helping you take control of your own life. You decide what is important for you and what you would like your life to look like, not just in terms of mental illness symptoms, but more holistically.

When you take a ‘recovery approach’, you work as a team with your doctor and other health professionals to work out how to manage your mental health and achieve your personal goals. You are at the centre of your care and it will be personal and unique to you.

Promoting a recovery approach to mental healthcare is part of Australia’s national mental health strategy. It sets out 6 key principles that can help you ensure that mental health services are helping your recovery:

• Uniqueness of the individual: Do you feel supported to build on your unique strengths to live a satisfying life?
• Real choices: Are you given enough information to make informed choices about care and treatment? Are you being supported to take as much responsibility as you can?
• Attitudes and rights: Are your legal and human rights advised, respected and promoted? Are you supported to develop activities that are meaningful to you?
• Dignity and respect: Do you feel welcome at the service? Are your culture and beliefs respected?
• Partnership and communication: Does the service proactively involve you in all aspects of care planning and treatment with a recovery focus?
• Evaluating recovery: Are you involved in reviewing and assessing your recovery goals?

What is a mental health recovery plan?

A mental health recovery plan, also called a wellness recovery action plan (WRAP), helps you:

• identify what sort of life you want to lead and create positive changes
• take personal responsibility to achieve your goals
• feel empowered
• keep track of changes in your mental health
• identify and manage triggers that might worsen your mental health
• have a plan in case of crisis

For example, you might decide you want to live on your own, find a part-time job or reconnect with your family. Together with your mental health team, you can work out how best to get what you want and what help you need along the way.

What else can I do to help my recovery?

There is lots you can do to help your recovery, including:

• healthy eating
• regular physical activity
• getting plenty of sleep
• learning skills like mindfulness, which can help with stress management
• taking your medicine as directed
• reporting any side effects or problems to your doctor or specialist
• making sure you attend regular appointments

Avoiding alcohol and drug use is also important, as you may feel they are helping, but they actually make many mental health conditions worse.

How do I get help with my recovery?

Many mental health services can help with your recovery. The first step is to see your doctor who can give you advice and refer you to mental health professionals and local services.

Your doctor can help you build a mental health care plan.

Resources and support

For further information you can call the healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria). A registered nurse is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Healthdirect also offers a comprehensive directory of mental health resources.

You can also find more information and support from the following organisations:

• Head to Health gives advice and will connect you to local mental health services. Call 1800 595 212. Check the operating times.
• SANE Australia has a guide to services that can help with recovery from mental illness.
• ReachOut has practical tools and support for young people including a phone app WorryTime.
• Beyond Blue for help with free mental health services for depression and anxiety

Looking for information for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people?

• 13YARN is the first national crisis support line for mob who are feeling overwhelmed or having difficulty coping. Call 13 YARN (13 92 76) for a confidential one-on-one with an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Crisis Supporter.
• Beyond Blue has helpful contacts for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.

Looking for information in languages other than English?

• Beyond Blue offers mental health information in various languages. Information is grouped by subject area to help you find what you're looking for.
• Transcultural Mental Health provides information and services for people from other cultures or people who prefer languages other than English.
• Access THIS WAY UP’s translated Coping Tools and Worksheets in common languages other than English.