What we've covered

Well, the time has come to wrap this blog up!

So far we have covered what recovery and the Recovery Approach are. We have also covered aspects of the Recovery Approach being applied in an acute mental health setting, including the restrictive environment of the ward, hope, stigma, funding issues and medication. Finally, we have also looked at how OT's and other staff members can help give acute wards more of a recovery focus.

Personally, I have enjoyed sharing my knowledge and views about the Recovery Approach with you. I have strong views about the Recovery Approach in the acute mental health setting. Completing this blog and the research behind it has enhanced these views greatly.

It is my opinion that it is important to use the Recovery Approach as it puts the client’s best interests first. It is a key approach which an occupational therapist is well equipped to use within the realm of mental health. However I do believe there are issues when applying it to the acute mental health setting and I do not think that it is currently the best approach to be used in an acute ward, unless it is used in an eclectic manner. I do believe that in the future there is huge potential for the Recovery Approach to be applied more exclusively in this setting.

After completing this blog I feel I have expanded my knowledge about the Recovery Approach, and have also re-familiarised myself with the blogging world. It has been great to learn all the tricks of the trade and I plan to use these skills to help promote occupational therapy again, further down the track.

I now feel, that if I get a job in an acute mental health ward, I would be better able to incorporate the principles of the Recovery Approach into my practice, as I am familiar with the competencies expected of mental health workers, and the key points of the approach.

I hope you have found the information in this blog useful and interesting, thank you for following my progress!

Anna