Mental health consumers' perceptions of receiving recovery-focused services

Rationale, aims and objectives: This study examines the experiences of mental health service consumers engaged in various recovery-focused support practices as well as examining consumer valuing of these activities. Method: A self-report questionnaire was developed drawing on key aspects of the Collaborative Recovery Model (CRM) (responsibility, collaboration, autonomy, motivation, needs, goals, homework). Ninety-two adult consumers from metropolitan, regional and rural non-government organizations and public mental health services in eastern Australian states completed the questionnaire. Results: Consumers using services provided by CRM-trained workers identified significant changes to service delivery in relation to frequency with which they were encouraged to take responsibility for their recovery, degree to which they collaborated with staff and the extent to which they were encouraged to complete homework activities to assist them to achieve their goals, when compared with consumers using traditional services. The key aspects of the CRM were valued by consumers. No differences were found in terms of overall ratings of clinician helpfulness in assisting recovery between the two groups. Conclusions: Consumers are able to perceive recovery-focused service changes. Although preliminary, this is a significant step towards assessing the operationalization of recovery principles from the consumer's perspective.