The Evolution and Impact of Mental Illness Recovery Approach: A Report

This report delves into the mental illness recovery approach, tracing its evolution and the factors that contributed to its development. It begins by highlighting the shift towards a recovery-oriented approach, emphasizing the potential for individuals with mental illness to achieve full recovery. The report examines the influence of the disability rights movement and the civil rights movement in advocating for the rights and inclusion of individuals with mental health conditions. It also discusses the contributions of individuals who have experienced mental illness, such as Judi Chamberlin, and the formation of survivor groups, which played a critical role in advocating for changes in mental health care. The report references scholarly works to support its claims, providing a comprehensive overview of the recovery approach and its impact on the treatment and support of individuals with mental illness.

Running Head: MENTAL ILLNESS
Mental illness
Name
Professor
Institution

MENTAL ILLNESS 2
Question 1
Recovery approach to mental ailment was meant to support individual’s potential to
recover. The approach was developed after realizing that the people who lived with mental
illness had a chance that they could use to gain full recovery. Researchers found out that every
person’s way to recover from illnesses is different and hence they had to propose a method that
would be universal to replace the previously used methods (Grob, 2019). The observation was
made by scholars and finally supported by different medics and organizations across the globe.
The researchers provided shreds of evidence of full recovery for the patients who applied full
recovery approach (Vigo , Thornicroft, & Atun, 2016). The scholars did not only build on
managing the condition of mental illness but also on supporting those who were mentally
distressed. The latter called for the development of a recovery approach. There were also
personal testimonies from people who had suffered from this illness and recovered and they
pushed for the implementation of the development of the recovery approach.
The disability rights movement played a spirited part in the progression of the recovery
approach. The association focused on people who had any form of disability including mental
disability. The movement advocated for equal rights to every person living with mental illness.
The movement realized that fighting for such people’s rights was equal to letting them free from
bondages of neglect and abuse at a personal level (Grob, 2019).the development of the civil
rights movement in 1960 meant to secure equal rights an chances for all individuals including
those who loved with disabilities. The movement encouraged the mentally challenged to live as
active society members. The consumer groups were formed in 20th century and advocated for
lively participation on community services to the people who were mentally challenged.

MENTAL ILLNESS 3
Question 2
People who once experienced mental illness made great contributions to the advancement
of the recovery approach. Most of these people raised alarm for the services being offered to
them by psychiatrists to be improved. They began revolutionary movements that would later
bring changes in the systems of treatment and care for the mentally challenged people. There
were living personal testimonies of how psychiatrists and some patients mistreated them and this
showed the unfairness that used to take place in healthcare institutions (Grob, 2019). Scholars
like Judi Chamberlin who was an ex-patient wrote on the alternative methods that could be
utilized in the mental fitness scheme and consequently made a great contribution to the
advancement of the recovery approach. Different survivor assemblies made up to form an
sovereign human rights movement which would give much attention to the challenges in the
mental health system (Grob, 2019). The birth and growth of these survivor groups made the
plight for the patients who lived with mental illnesses widely known hence proving that there
was a need for immediate action for the same. The invention of the leaders from the survivor
groups led influenced the policymakers to come up with a modification in the services being
delivered in the mental health institutions.

MENTAL ILLNESS 4
References
Grob, G. N. (2019). Mental illness and American society. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
Vigo , D., Thornicroft, G., & Atun, R. (2016). Estimating the true global burden of mental
illness. The Lancet Psychiatry, 45(3), 172-187.