Over the past year as part of its Recovery Support Strategic Initiative—SAMHSA has worked with a range of stakeholders to develop a working definition of recovery that “captures the essential, common experiences of those recovering from mental and substance use disorders,” as well as 10 guiding principles that support recovery.
Here’s what they have come up with:
Recovery From Mental and Substance Use Disorders – A process of change through which individuals work to improve their own health and well-being, live a self-directed life, and strive to achieve their full potential.
Ten Guiding Principles of Recovery:
- Recovery is person-driven.
- Recovery occurs via many pathways.
- Recovery is holistic.
- Recovery is supported by peers and allies.
- Recovery is supported through relationships and social networks.
- Recovery is culturally based and influenced.
- Recovery is supported by addressing trauma.
- Recovery involves individual, family, and community strengths and responsibility.
- Recovery is based on respect.
- Recovery emerges from hope.
Now SAMHSA is giving consumers the chance to offer some feedback. What do you think? If you would like to give SAMHSA your opinion on the definition and principles they’ve developed, we encourage you to visit the “Recovery Defined” post on the SAMHSA blog, and leave a comment on their “Definition of Recovery Forum.”
Comments close on Friday, August 26, so register your thoughts with SAMHSA while you can!