Implementing Recovery Oriented Evidence Based Programs: Identifying the Critical Dimensions

Abstract

In the decades of the 1990s many mental health programs and the systems that fund these programs have identified themselves as recovery-oriented. A program that is grounded in a vision of recovery is based on the notion that a majority of people can grow beyond the catastrophe of a severe mental illness and lead a meaningful life in their own community. First person accounts of recovery and empirical research have led to a developing consensus about the service delivery values underlying recovery. The emphasis on recovery-oriented programming has been concurrent with a focus in the field on evidence-based practices. We propose that evidence based practices be implemented in a manner that is recovery compatible. Program dimensions for evidence based practice, such as program mission, policies, procedures, record keeping and staffing should be consistent with recovery values in order for a program to be considered to be recovery-oriented. This article describes the critical dimensions of such value based practice, regardless of the service the recovery oriented mental health programs provide (e.g., treatment, case management, rehabilitation). The aim of this first attempt at conceptualizing recovery-oriented mental health programs is to both provide direction to those involved in program implementation of evidence based mental health practices, as well as providing a stimulus for further discussion in the field.

Participation in day centres for people with psychiatric disabilities: Characteristics of occupations

“…Furthermore, describing the ingredients of rehabilitation programmes, as proposed by Farkas and colleagues (31) and as seen in the present study, can make it easier to evidence base such programmes in the future.…”

“…There is, thus a need for adequate staff education and transdisciplinary training (30), in order for the staff to be able to utilise the potentials of occupations in such a way that the day centres can meet the heterogeneity of the target group (14) and value and support the individual's choices, involvement and abilities (31). The fact that a certain task can be perceived differently by different visitors underlines that the interplay between the individual visitor, the context and the task performed needs to be considered.…”

Patients’ subjective perspective on recovery orientation on an acute psychiatric unit

“…The purpose of this clinical project was to foster recovery-orientation on an acute psychiatric unit by strengthening the subjective perspective of patients within the working relationship (14)(15)(16). One major part of the project was to successively restructure organizational processes (introduction of treatment conferences and conjoint treatment planning, reduction of the total time of reports on patients in their absence).…”

signification de la santé mentale dans le cadre de l'expérience du rétablissement chez des adultes vivant avec une maladie mentale /

“…Il est important que l'intervenant ait la certitude profonde que toute personne, qui qu'elle soit, a de la valeur, possède des buts, a du talent et a en elle, les capacités à se rétablir. C'est cette croyance qui fait en sorte que l'intervenant puisse avoir une approche, orientée selon la vision du rétablissement avec la personne qui vit avec une maladie mentale (Farkas, Gagne, Anthony, & Chamberlin, 2005;Rapp, 2004).…”