An exploration of the concept of mental health recovery: Insights from practitioners and trainees

Abstract

Background Recovery concepts were conceived by, and for, people living with mental health issues. Practitioners are key in translating recovery principles into action. Therefore, practitioners’ perceptions should be routinely assessed to facilitate in-service training, professional development, and curriculum redesign. Aim To explore practitioners’ and trainees’ current perspectives regarding the concept of recovery. Methods The study used a qualitative exploratory design with in-depth interviews to explore ten fully trained practitioners and eight trainees’ perspectives on recovery. Results The findings revealed a shared understanding of recovery among practitioners and trainees. Many responses explained recovery as a process involving internal and external conditions, however, some revealed medically oriented perspectives and/or were unclear about recovery terminologies. Conclusions There is convergence and growing acceptance of the recovery practice principles among practitioners and trainees. However, the results suggest that the recovery principles/terminologies have not yet been universally adopted. Implications for practice and research Continuous training on recovery principles is needed, incorporating emerging terminologies and principles. Also, education providers are encouraged to continue to review their training to incorporate emerging issues and trends in recovery-oriented practice. Finally, research is needed to enhance the development and delivery of recovery-focused practice.