For centuries, the topic of mental illness was considered taboo. People would shy away from having conversations about mental illness, admitting they had a mental illness, or ignore their need for help to treat their mental illness. Over the past few years, the United States has seen a movement to normalize mental illness, as it is something that affects one in five Americans. From everyday people to major celebrities, the conversation about mental illness is becoming one that is had regularly and the outward encouragement for people to reach out for help when they are in a mental health crisis has never been louder.
Despite what appears to be a nation changing its mindset regarding mental illness, there is still a stigma surrounding it. Some people are fearful of talking about their symptoms or feel uncomfortable telling friends and family that they think something isn’t right. Some people are still stuck in the frame of mind that asking for help is the equivalent to failure. However, addressing a mental illness is vital in preserving a happy, healthy life. That is why many people can benefit from mental health recovery.
What is Mental Health Recovery?
Mental health recovery is defined as “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 potential.” Anyone who is struggling with a mental illness and needs additional resources to address their issues can benefit from mental health recovery. Through mental health recovery, individuals can improve their physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing all while developing skills to help them live up to their full potential.
10 Components of Mental Health Recovery
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), there are 10 components of mental health recovery. They include the following:
- Self-direction – Individuals decide upon their own recovery path and are empowered to do so by being given control of their resources
- Individualized and person-centered – The belief that all individuals have their own unique needs, strengths, preferences, and cultural background
- Empowerment – Individuals are involved in making all decisions that impact their lives and are educated and supported along the way
- Holistic – Recovery focuses on all areas of an individual’s life, from their emotional and spiritual wellbeing to their careers, social circles, and family supports
- Non-linear – The belief that recovery is not a straight line, rather one that goes step-by-step and includes successes and setbacks
- Strengths-based – Utilizing recovery to build up capacities, resiliencies, talents, coping abilities, and inherent worth of individuals
- Peer support – Having individuals encourage and engage with one another and provide one another with a sense of belonging
- Respect – Eliminating stigma and discrimination so individuals can build on self acceptance and confidence
- Responsibility – Individuals have a responsibility for their own self care in their recovery, including developing coping skills to support their wellbeing
- Hope – All involved in the recovery process will foster hope and motivation
All facilities that provide mental health recovery follow these components in order to provide only the utmost quality care to each and every individual who comes to them looking for help.
Benefits of Mental Health Recovery
Attempting to live with a mental illness like anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, or a personality disorder without any professional intervention can be extremely complicated. In fact, those who have a mental illness and who do not seek any type of treatment are at greater risk for abusing or becoming addicted to drugs, committing suicide, and suffering social, financial, and emotional consequences. But, if treatment is obtained, these results do not have to come to fruition, rather they can be avoided completely. That is quite possibly the greatest benefit of mental health recovery, although there are several more.
According to mentalhealth.gov, the official government website for mental health in the United States, there are four dimensions of recovery — health, home, purpose, and community. Within these dimensions are several benefits that improve the quality of life for all recovering from a mental illness. These benefits include, but are certainly not limited to, the following:
- Developing strong decision-making skills
- Establishing self-confidence and self-acceptance
- Understanding the importance of good physical health (and how to accomplish that)
- Learning and applying healthy coping skills to protect emotional wellbeing
- Accepting the benefit of living in a home conducive to mental health recovery
- Participating in meaningful everyday activities
- Reviving the drive to work and support oneself
- Building communication skills
- Learning how to establish support networks in the community and taking action to do so
During mental health recovery, individuals will not only reap these benefits, but they will also spend a great deal of time doing the following:
- Identifying and addressing personal issues
- Developing goals and plans on how to achieve them
- Monitor changes in behaviors while in treatment
- Identify triggers and learn how to manage them
- Obtain education about their mental illness
Mental health recovery is vital for people who need help overcoming the challenges that stand in their way because of their mental illness. Making the decisions to get help does not make anyone less of a person, rather it shows that they are determined to develop a better version of themselves. When an individual puts forth effort and dedication to their mental health recovery, they can achieve great, lasting success.
Do You Need Help for a Mental Illness? Call Us Right Now.
If you have a mental illness and need help, know that you are not alone. More than 50 million people in the country are experiencing mental health problems that impact their daily lives. The good news is that mental illness can be treated with the right care.
So, if you are ready to get the help you deserve so that you do not need to continue to live with an untreated mental illness, call us right now. We understand the feelings you are experiencing and are here to tell you that you do not need to accept this as your life. There is so much more available to you and it’s all right at your fingertips.
