Principles of Recovery: The Case of Sandy Jeffs

Running head: SANDY JEFFS 1
Principles of Recovery: The Case of Sandy Jeffs
Student’s Name
Institution

SANDY JEFFS 2
Principles of Recovery
In order for mental health professionals to align their practice with the recovery oriented
principles, there are certain practice domains and key capabilities that are required to be met so
as to do so. Moreover, there is need for such professionals to get acquainted with certain key
concepts that are deemed pivotal to the success of their practice in ensuring that their activities
are well tailored to support full recovery of their patients. With special reference to the stories
and poetry written in regards to Sandy Jeffs, this paper explains how the lived experiences of this
individual can help mental health professionals align their practice with the recovery principles
for recovery orientated medical health services. Notably, medical professionals need to be
conversant with concepts of recovery, recovery focused on principles of practice, and recovery
that is concerned with delivery of care. Additionally, there is need for these professionals to
exhibit a culture of hope and optimism.
The Concept of Lived Experience of Mental Health and Illness
The lived experience is at the core of every mental health issue or rather illnesses that
affect individuals. This concept attempts to explain the mental health issues that people have
experienced either in their own lives or with people to whom they are closest to (Nugent,
Hancock & Honey, 2017). Ideally, the lived experiences relate to the familiarities that people are
accustomed to in their daily lives which affect them individually or has affected their close
relatives. For individuals affected with mental conditions, their lived familiarities may entail the
way that the community views them and the way that they have been allowed to live their lives
(AHMAC, 2013). For instance, Sandy Jeffs admits that people like her and specifically those
with mental health issues have been subjected to worse living conditions where they have been

SANDY JEFFS 3
called all sorts of names and where they have been stigmatized because of their conditions (Jeffs,
2009).
Recovery, the Concept in Relation to Mental Health and Illness
Mental health service provision requires a comprehensive approach that takes into
account the practice, service as well as culture of all the involved stakeholders, that is, the
patients and the medical practitioners. It is also noteworthy that the concept of recovery was
coined specifically for individuals suffering from mental health issues in a bid to provide an
explanation of the struggles and challenges that such individuals face. Furthermore, this concept
attempts to explain that these individuals have managed to retain their personal identify despite
their medical diagnoses (AHMAC, 2013; Chaturvedi, 2016). Additionally, this concept deals
away with the traditional ideologies of distinguished duties that are segregated between patients
and the medical practitioners. In other words, it illustrates that regardless of the position held,
each individual should be respected for their own expertise and experience since they are crucial
for ensuring that the patient regains fully their well-being (Jacob et al, 2017). Hence, patients and
mental health professionals are treated alike thereby ensuring that there are no demarcations of
roles.
The Principles of Recovery
There are six main principles of recovery distinguished by Australia’s department of
health. These principles are applicable to mental health service system and must therefore be
adhered to by mental health professionals. They include; dignity and respect, evaluating
recovery, real choices, partnership and communication , uniqueness of the individual, and
attitudes and rights, (Australian Government Department of Health, 2010). The principles are