Welcome!

Hi to all, and welcome to the blog about recovery in mental health! My name is Anna Chapman, and I am a final year occupational therapy student. Over my three years of studying at the School of Occupational Therapy in Otago, New Zealand, I have gained experience in many areas. One of my favourite areas has been in mental health.

While on an acute inpatient mental health placement at the beginning of this year, I was introduced to the concepts of the Recovery Approach. I found that there was not always the scope to apply these concepts in this particular setting. This left me feeling a little confused, considering that, in New Zealand, the government endorses the use of the Recovery Approach in all mental health settings.

In first semester this year I also completed an assignment about the use of the Recovery Approach in acute mental health. This increased my understanding about the approach, and helped me realise I was not the only person who struggled to apply the approach in acute mental health!

Within this blog I would like to share with you what I have learnt about the approach, and increase awareness about the concepts of recovery in mental health.