Whether you are working on your mental health or studying to complete a Diploma of Mental Health to help others, you may have come across the phrase “recovery-oriented approach”.
A recovery-oriented approach to mental health focuses on the future and puts the person at the forefront of the treatment, ensuring each person is treated as an individual with a personal journey.
In this blog, the team at TrainSmart Australia have pulled together a brief insight into what a recovery-oriented framework involves and how you can use aspects of the framework to help your own mental health.
1. Uniqueness of the Individual
The first aspect of recovery-oriented mental health practise is recognising that everyone is an individual and therefore any mental health plan needs to be unique to the person.
It’s also important that any recovery outcomes focus on more than just health by also emphasising quality of life and social inclusion.
Relevance to you: Remember that there is no one-size-fits-all treatment for mental health – you are an individual and your treatment should take into consideration your situation.
2. Real Choices
This involves supporting and empowering the individual to make choices and take responsibility for how they want to move forward in their life.
Relevance to you: You have the right to make choices about mental health treatment, and your mental health practitioner should assist you to take positive steps to make the most of new opportunities.
3. Attitudes and Rights
Learning about what matters to each individual is an important step in making treatment options more relevant and suitable to each person.
Professionals in the mental health sector are encouraged to listen to, learn from, and act upon the things that are most important to the individual.
And of course, any treatment needs to protect the human, legal and citizenship rights of the individual.
Relevance to you: Don’t be afraid to speak up about what is important to you – treatment shouldn’t hinder the things that you love to do, it should support you to continue doing activities that are beneficial to your health.
4. Dignity and Respect
Individuals working through a mental health treatment plan should feel respected in all communications and dealings with their mental health practitioner.
This means that all interactions should be courteous, honest and respectful, have sensitivity for individual values and cultural and religious beliefs, and be free from discrimination.
Relevance to you: During treatment, you shouldn’t feel discriminated against or feel like your values, belief or culture are being attacked. Your beliefs and values are part of who you are, so your health professional needs to respect this.
5. Partnership and Communication
This aspect of recovery-oriented practises ensures that any communication between the practitioner and the individual is clear and relevant.
By communicating clearly and acknowledging that each individual knows their life and journey best, so that together, the individual and practitioner can realise the person’s ideas for their recovery.
Relevance to you: People learn in different ways, so it is important for your trusted health professional to work with you in a way that makes sense to you to help you realise your hopes, goals and aspirations.
6. Evaluating Recovery
It is important for the person and their mental health practitioner to evaluate steps in recovery along the way, being sensitive to what needs to be changed, re-directing goals if necessary and realising that recovery is a dynamic process. Evaluating along the way is crucial in developing recovery strategies that are flexible and suit the changing needs of a person.
Relevance to you: If you’re tracking the progress in your recovery and isn’t going to plan, that’s completely okay.
But you need to chat with your mental health professional to make the necessary changes to get back on the right track. There is no shame in telling them that the plan isn’t working for you.
Why Study the Diploma of Mental Health?
If you are passionate about supporting others on their mental health journey, studying a Diploma of Mental Health with TrainSmart Australia is the first step on your journey to get there.
A Diploma of Mental Health, studied over 12 months, is designed to provide you with the understanding and knowledge to support, counsel, refer and advocate positive mental health outcomes for individual clients and communities.
Ready to get started on a new journey to help others with their mental health? Get in touch with TrainSmart Australia today to learn more about entry requirements and all the courses on offer.
