Skip to main content

What Irish Mental Healthcare Professionals say about the Recovery method

 

Professor Ivor Browne
F.R.C.P.I  F.R.C.Psych   M.Sc.(Harv)  D.P.M.
Former Professor of Psychiatry at University College Dublin and Chief Psychiatrist of the Eastern Health Board  

 

'Recovery' provides an opportunity for the patient to learn about self-help and to take over the management of their lives once again. In my experience, practice of Recovery's self help techniques helps patients respond more quickly to treatment. This can lead to shorter and less frequent hospitalisations, less need for medication. 

At the same time Recovery members are encouraged to maintain a good relationship with their therapist. Where I have had patients who used the Recovery method, my job has been made easier. Psychiatrists should pay more attention to the benefits of self-help organisations such as this.

The environment at the Recovery meeting is also conducive to individuals learning certain social skills or behavioural norms which they have perhaps failed to take on during their development. The overall effect is to accelerate the patient to the stage where they can gain control over their own lives. 

 

Professor Patricia Casey
Department of Adult Psychiatry, Mater Hospital, Dublin.

'Recovery' teaches coping skills to people who have experienced problems with their mental health. It is of particular benefit to patients who have fear, anxiety or physical symptoms with a psychological cause. The overall effect of regular attendance at Recovery meetings is to increase the speed at which patients get better.

The self-help programme emphasises that patients attending Recovery meetings should comply with the treatment plan of their mental health professional. The effect of this is that patients cooperate better in their own rehabilitation and develop insights into the nature of their condition. This is a 'win-win' situation for both patient and therapist. For the patient this means more rapid progress towards wellness; for the therapist it means fewer panic calls, and greater patient self-reliance and insight.

When the patient has regained good mental health, the practice of Recovery principles in daily life provides a 'code of best practice', to maintain good mental health. Regular practice of these principles in daily living helps people to live life more fully, as well as reducing the severity and frequency of relapses where these occur.

 

 

 

Dr A. O' Flaherty
M.B,   M.R.C.Psych.,   DP.M.
Dept of Psychiatry, St. Patrick's Hospital, Dublin.

 

I first became convinced of the benefit of 'Recovery' in the 1970's. Since then I have seen the benefits that accrue to patients who regularly attend meetings and practice the teachings of Dr. Low. 

Recovery offers acceptance, support and guidance and a way forward for those with symptoms of anxiety and depression.

 

Dr Kenneth Sinanan
MA  MD  FRC Psych.  DPM
Consultant Psychiatrist

I first learned about Recovery over 30 years ago while I was a psychiatrist in training, from a patient who was suffering from a serious depressive illness.

Since I discovered Recovery at that early stage in my training, I have advised many people who have had some improvement with psychiatric treatment, but have not achieved as much as they would wish, to attend Recovery meetings and to see if it were suitable for them. 

A large proportion of them have found that Recovery has added an extra dimension to their progress. It has enabled them to achieve a sense of well-being which often medical or clinical treatment has not achieved for them. Over the years many, many patients have told me how Recovery made a big difference to their lives and that it enabled them to achieve a better level of emotional control and improved quality of life

The Recovery organisation has stood the test of time and the fact that Recovery meetings exist in many countries over the world proves that its benefits are universal and not just local.

 

 

 

Tile Ads

Give feedback on this Site?

[CLICK HERE].