Healing and Recovery

I have just finished reading a news article on the Schizophrenia Society of Canada's new mission statement. Up to this point in their history their mission statement focused on symptom reduction to remove some of the suffering.

But symptom reduction by itself does not produce healing and recovery. In order to get healing and recovery you need to be able to live. You need to experience happiness and success. You need to live a life of meaning, purpose, and be a productive member of society. Recovery means that you can be independent. Have your own place. Be able to keep it clean, cook your own meals, learn to budget your money, learn to shop for groceries, and learn to pay your bills.

It also means to have a social life and be able to participate in recreational activities. If a person gets well enough. To get and hold down a job, or go back to school and get an education.

It also means to have access to good service delivery from the mental health field, to have access to funding if the person is not able to work, and to have access to affordable housing.

The new mission statement still aims to reduce symptoms and the suffering but it also promotes healing and recovery. I personally believe that the things I've mentioned is what healing and recovery is all about.