To belong, contribute, and hope: first stage development of a measure of social recovery

Abstract

Background: Recovery from mental health challenges is beginning to be explored as an inherently social process. There is a need to measure social recovery. Targeted measures would be utilized in needs assessment, service delivery, and program evaluation. This paper reports on the first stage of development of a social recovery measure.

Aims: Explore the social aspects of recovery as reported by individuals with lived experience.

Method: A qualitative study using thematic analysis of data from focus groups with 41 individuals in recovery.

Results: Three meta-themes of social recovery emerged: community, self-concept, and capacities. Each theme contained a number of sub-themes concerned with a sense of belonging, inherent acceptability of the self, and ability to cope with mental distress and engage socially.

Conclusions: Study participants clearly spoke to common human needs to belong, contribute, and have hope for one's future. Findings converged with results of consumer-led research that emphasize the importance of overcoming the impact of illness on the self and social context.

• Mental health
• recovery
• social inclusion
• social recovery

Declaration of interest

The author reports that he has no conflict of interest and is solely responsible for the content and writing of the paper.