Recovery is cited, within Transforming Mental Health Care in
America, Federal Action Agenda: First Steps, as the "single most
important goal" for the mental health service delivery system.
To clearly define recovery, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration within the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services and the Interagency Committee on Disability Research in
partnership with six other Federal agencies convened the National Consensus Conference on Mental Health
Recovery and Mental Health Systems Transformation on December 16-17, 2004.
Over 110 expert panelists participated, including mental health consumers, family members, providers,
advocates, researchers, academicians, managed care representatives, accreditation organization
representatives, State and local public officials, and others. A series of technical papers and reports were
commissioned that examined topics such as recovery across the lifespan, definitions of recovery, recovery in
cultural contexts, the intersection of mental health and addictions recovery, and the application of recovery at
individual, family, community, provider, organizational, and systems levels. The following consensus
statement was derived from expert panelist deliberations on the findings.
Mental health recovery is a journey of healing and transformation enabling a person with a mental health
problem to live a meaningful life in a community of his or her choice while striving to achieve his or her full
potential.
The 10 Fundamental Components of Recovery
Self-Direction: Consumers lead, control, exercise choice over, and determine their own path of recovery by
optimizing autonomy, independence, and control of resources to achieve a self-determined life. By definition,
the recovery process must be self-directed by the individual, who defines his or her own life goals and
designs a unique path towards those goals.
Individualized and Person-Centered: There are multiple pathways to recovery based on an individual's
unique strengths and resiliencies as well as his or her needs, preferences, experiences (including past
trauma), and cultural background in all of its diverse representations. Individuals also identify recovery as
being an ongoing journey and an end result as well as an overall paradigm for achieving wellness and
optimal mental health.
Empowerment: Consumers have the authority to choose from a range of options and to participate in all
decisions-including the allocation of resources-that will affect their lives, and are educated and supported in
so doing. They have the ability to join with other consumers to collectively and effectively speak for
themselves about their needs, wants, desires, and aspirations. Through empowerment, an individual gains
control of his or her own destiny and influences the organizational and societal structures in his or her life.
Holistic: Recovery encompasses an individual's whole life, including mind, body, spirit, and community.
Recovery embraces all aspects of life, including housing, employment, education, mental health and
healthcare treatment and services, complementary and naturalistic services, addictions treatment, spirituality,
creativity, social networks, community participation, and family supports as determined by the person.
Families, providers, organizations, systems, communities, and society play crucial roles in creating and
maintaining meaningful opportunities for consumer access to these supports.
Non-Linear: Recovery is not a step-bystep process but one based on continual growth, occasional setbacks,
and learning from experience. Recovery begins with an initial stage of awareness in which a person
recognizes that positive change is possible. This awareness enables the consumer to move on to fully
engage in the work of recovery.
Strengths-Based: Recovery focuses on valuing and building on the multiple capacities, resiliencies, talents,
coping abilities, and inherent worth of individuals. By building on these strengths, consumers leave stymied
life roles behind and engage in new life roles (e.g., partner, caregiver, friend, student, employee). Th e
process of recovery moves forward through interaction with others in supportive, trust-based relationships.
Peer Support: Mutual support-including the sharing of experiential knowledge and skills and social
learning-plays an invaluable role in recovery. Consumers encourage and engage other consumers in
recovery and provide each other with a sense of belonging, supportive relationships, valued roles, and
community.
Respect: Community, systems, and societal acceptance and appreciation of consumers -including protecting
their rights and eliminating discrimination and stigma-are crucial in achieving recovery. Self-acceptance and
regaining belief in one's self are particularly vital. Respect ensures the inclusion and full participation of
consumers in all aspects of their lives.
Responsibility: Consumers have a personal responsibility for their own self-care and journeys of recovery.
Taking steps towards their goals may require great courage. Consumers must strive to understand and give
meaning to their experiences and identify coping strategies and healing processes to promote their own
wellness.
Hope: Recovery provides the essential and motivating message of a better future- that people can and do
overcome the barriers and obstacles that confront them. Hope is internalized; but can be fostered by peers,
families, friends, providers, and others. Hope is the catalyst of the recovery process. Mental health recovery
not only benefi ts individuals with mental health disabilities by focusing on their abilities to live, work, learn,
and fully participate in our society, but also enriches the texture of American community life. America reaps
the benefi ts of the contributions individuals with mental disabilities can make, ultimately becoming a stronger
and healthier Nation.
Resources
www.samhsa.gov
National Mental Health Information Center
1-800-789-2647, 1-866-889-2647 (TDD)
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