Recovery Model of Care
Recovery is a model of care in mental health that frames the relationship between the person and their health provider. It is the leading model of care in most mental health services in Australia and the western world. The language of recovery and the language of spiritual care reflect one another.
The World Health Organisation’s definition of recovery:
“For many people recovery is about regaining control of their identity and life, having hope for their life, and living a life that has meaning for them whether that be through work, relationships, spirituality, community engagement or some or all of these” (World Health Organisation, 2021, p.5).
The origins of the recovery movement have its genesis in the civil rights movement in the USA mid last century, manifesting as push back against what was perceived as a purely clinical model of care that overlooked the person and their multi-dimensional needs. The recognition of spirituality as an important component of mental health recovery was arguably born around this time.
The language of recovery and the language of spiritual care both speak of hope, meaning, purpose, connection, identity, meaningful engagement, and both engage in the metaphor of life as a rich, evolving, and purposeful journey.
Further reading on recovery can be found at the following links:
- Fiona Browning shares her insights on What recovery means to me in a blog of the same name that was featured in the Wellways newsletter in 2019.
- Currently in Australia, the recovery model is supported by the National Framework for Recovery-Orientated Practice 2013.
- Spiritual Health Association updated their resource, Heart & Soul Matters, guide to providing spiritual care in mental health settings in 2021. This resource supports mental health workers, carers, and family members to confidently engage in conversations within the spiritual domain of people’s lives and makes links to the recovery model.
