Recovery approach supported by consultants
Psychiatrists from two London mental health trusts have released an important document which will shape the future of recovery - ensuring people with mental health problems live a life beyond their illness.
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and South West London and St Georges NHS Mental Health Trust have published a joint statement supporting the move towards a recovery-orientated approach in Mental Health Services.
'Recovery is for All: Hope, Agency and Opportunity in Psychiatry', outlines the importance of supporting the needs and wishes of mental health service users to live a more fulfilling life and to giving greater emphasis to the social outcomes of people with mental health problems. Mental health services, and those who work in them, must begin to work in partnership with patients to facilitate their Recovery journeys.
This is the first position statement to be produced by consultant psychiatrists in the UK. Senior Managers from both NHS Trusts have welcomed the publication. Martin Baggaley, Medical Director at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust said today:
"So often, mental health services have paid insufficient heed to the needs and wishes of patients to live a rewarding life.
"We need to look beyond the control of symptoms and move to measuring the effectiveness of treatments and interventions in terms of the impact of these on the goals and outcomes that matter to the individual service user and their family. We need to continually ask ourselves are we helping or hindering a person in their recovery.
"Professionals should look closely at the ideas of recovery and consider ways in which their practices and all services could be orientated to facilitate recovery in the people who use them. If recovery ideas are to have an impact then professionals and others working in mental health services need to understand what recovery means and, in partnership with service users and others, actively support their implementation across services".
Today, Miles Rinaldi, Head of Recovery and Social Inclusion at the South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust welcomed the position statement:
"This a testimony to the support given by many mental health professionals in the UK to the principles of Recovery for the practice of clinicians and the future development of mental health services. This Position Statement is the first in the UK and is attracting interest from other Trusts. The creation of recovery-orientated mental health services are key to making our services fit for the twenty-first century".
The Position Statement is supported by the Royal College of Psychiatrists. Dr Glenn Roberts, lead for recovery at the Royal College said:
"This is a major step forwards for medical involvement with the recovery movement. It offers support and guidance for doctors working across all the mental health specialties wanting to engage with putting Recovery values and principles into practice. It upholds the value and ambition of a progressive revision of practice and services so as to put the person with mental health problems, their hopes, ambitions and preferences for life and living, at the heart of all we do. It is to be congratulated and commended and is just a beginning".
'Recovery is for All: Hope, Agency and Opportunity in
Psychiatry' - joint statement