Recovery
Many people are frightened of the idea of mental ill health and the various diagnostic titles such as Psychosis, Schizophrenia, Bi Polar Disorder, Depression are seen as life long labels which mark the person as different from the rest of society.
Mental health recovery can be described as a journey of healing and transformation enabling a person with a mental health problem to live a meaningful life in the community, while striving to achieve his of her full potential.
The concept of recovery from mental ill health has been the subject of much discussion over the last fifteen years. It is a wide subject and each individual has to find their own entry point and plan or map their own journey. One central principle of the concept of recovery is that the person's own unique experience is the starting point for all actions. It is, therefore, very important to begin to learn about and understand what the experience is, what the feelings are and what the effect is on day to day life from the person's own point of view.
In this section you will find a very brief summary of a number of the main mental illnesses. Only some of it will apply to you or your relative/friend and you may experience additional things not noted below. Remember, what you feel and think and how you want to proceed towards balancing, regaining or maintaining your mental health is very personal. No one approach or person will necessarily be sufficient. Rather you should seek a wide range of information and supports to assist you to negotiate your journey.
Once you have read the information contact your GP, Mental Health Professional or Shine for more specific information.