International differences in understanding recovery: systematic review

Abstract

Aims. Mental health policy internationally varies in its support for recovery. The aims of this study were to validate an existing conceptual framework and then characterise by country the distribution, scientific foundations and emphasis in published recovery conceptualisations.Methods. Update and modification of a previously published systematic review and narrative synthesis of recovery conceptualisations published in English.Results. A total of 7431 studies were identified and 429 full papers reviewed, from which 105 conceptualisations in 115 papers were included and quality assessed using established rating scales. Recovery conceptualisations were identified from 11 individual countries, with 95 (91%) published in English-speaking countries, primarily the USA (47%) and the UK (25%). The scientific foundation was primarily qualitative research (53%), non-systematic literature reviews (24%) and position papers (12%). The conceptual framework was validated with the 18 new papers. Across the different countries, there was a relatively similar distribution of codings for each of five key recovery processes.Conclusions. Recovery as currently conceptualised in English-language publications is primarily based on qualitative studies and position papers from English-speaking countries. The conceptual framework was valid, but the development of recovery conceptualisations using a broader range of research designs within other cultures and non-majority populations is a research priority.

From struggling to survive to a life based on values and choices: first-person experiences of participating in a Norwegian Housing First project

“…Findings concerning existential issues such as hope and optimism in this study are also reported in reviews of the recovery literature (Bonney & Stickle, 2008;Leamy et al, 2011;Slade et al, 2012). Leamy et al (2011) have identified hope and optimism about the future as a core component in personal recovery.…”

“…This indicates a practice that mobilizes the person to participate and to interact with the environment. According to Slade et al (2012), empowerment relates both to a sense of empowerment within the services, such as having control over the assistance and support that they are given, and having personal responsibility, including becoming an empowered member of society (Slade et al, 2012). Empowerment is understood as a critical dimension of recovery (Leamy et al, 2011;Slade et al, 2012).…”

Applying a Mental Health Recovery Approach for People from Diverse Backgrounds: The Case of Collectivism and Individualism Paradigms

“…Although the recovery approach originated in Englishspeaking, Western countries, researchers have been increasingly exploring how to apply mental health recovery for people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds [6][7][8]. The reasons are twofold.…”

Transforming identity through participation in music and theatre: exploring narratives of people with mental health problems

“…Through the MTW, the hospital is working with identity as a key in people’s recovery processes (Andresen, Oades, & Caputi, 2003; Davidson & White, 2007; Salzmann-Erikson, 2013; Slade et al, 2012). As recovery is a personal and a social process (Topor, Borg, Di Girolamo, & Davidson, 2011), with no endpoint (Deegan, 1997), identity transformation can be the same.…”