RECOVERY FROM A-Z

Recovery emerges from hope and the belief that recovery is real. It provides the essential and motivating message of a better future where people can and do overcome the internal and external challenges, barriers, and obstacles that confront them. Hope is internalized and can be fostered by peers, families, providers, allies, and others.

Self-determination and self-direction are the foundations for recovery as individuals define their life goals and design their unique path(s) toward them. Individuals optimize their autonomy and independence to the greatest extent possible by leading, controlling, and exercising choice over the services and support that assist their recovery and resilience. In so doing, they are empowered and provided the resources to make informed decisions, initiate recovery, build on their strengths, and gain or regain control over their lives.

Individuals are unique with distinct needs, strengths, preferences, goals, cultures, and backgrounds, including trauma experiences that affect and determine their pathway(s) to recovery. In addition, recovery is built on each individual's capacities, strengths, talents, coping abilities, resources, and inherent value. Therefore, recovery pathways are highly personalized.

Recovery encompasses an individual’s whole life, including mind, body, spirit, and community. This includes addressing self-care practices, family, housing, employment, transportation, education, clinical treatment for mental disorders and substance use disorders, services and supports, primary healthcare, dental care, complementary and alternative services, faith, spirituality, creativity, social networks, and community participation. The array of services and supports available should be integrated and coordinated.

Mutual support and mutual aid groups, including the sharing of experiential knowledge and skills and social learning, play an invaluable role in recovery. Peers encourage and engage other peers and provide each other with a vital sense of belonging, supportive relationships, valued roles, and community. Through helping others and giving back to the community, one helps oneself. Peer-operated supports and services provide essential resources to assist people in recovery and wellness. Professionals can also play an important role in the recovery process by providing clinical treatment and other services that support individuals in their chosen recovery paths. While peers and allies play an important role for many in recovery, their roles for children and youth may differ slightly. Peer supports for families are very important for children with behavioral health problems and can also play a supportive role for youth in recovery.

An important factor in the recovery process is the presence and involvement of people who believe in the person’s ability to recover; who offer hope, support, and encouragement; and who also suggest strategies and resources for change. In addition, family members, peers, providers, faith groups, community members, and other allies form vital support networks. Through these relationships, people leave unhealthy or unfulfilling life roles behind and engage in new roles (e.g., partner, caregiver, friend, student, employee) that lead to a greater sense of belonging, personhood, empowerment, autonomy, social inclusion, and community participation.

Culture and cultural background in all its diverse representations, including values, traditions, and beliefs, are keys in determining a person’s journey and unique pathway to recovery. Therefore, services should be culturally grounded, attuned, sensitive, congruent, competent, and personalized to meet each individual’s unique needs.

The experience of trauma (such as physical or sexual abuse, domestic violence, war, disaster, and others) is often a precursor to or associated with alcohol and drug use, mental health problems, and related issues. Therefore, services and supports should be trauma-informed to foster safety (physical and emotional) and trust and promote choice, empowerment, and collaboration.

Individuals, families, and communities have strengths and resources that serve as a foundation for recovery. In addition, individuals have a personal responsibility for their self-care and recovery journeys. Individuals should be supported in speaking for themselves. Families and significant others have responsibilities to support their loved ones, especially children and youth in recovery. Communities should provide opportunities and resources to address discrimination and foster social inclusion and recovery. Individuals in recovery also have a social responsibility and should be able to join with peers to speak collectively about their strengths, needs, wants, desires, and aspirations.

Community, systems, and societal acceptance and appreciation for people affected by mental health and substance use problems, including protecting their rights and eliminating discrimination, are crucial in achieving recovery. In addition, there is a need to acknowledge that taking steps toward recovery may require great courage. Therefore, self-acceptance, developing a positive and meaningful sense of identity, and regaining belief in oneself are particularly important.