Recovery and Empowerment

About Recovery and Empowerment

Recovery is possible for everyone. It is a process. Recovery means that people with mental illness can live a meaningful life even though they may be dealing with symptoms of mental illness at times. Recovery means that you are not defined by your mental illness; it is only a part of you. As people begin to re-discover who they are, and what gifts they have to offer, the illness becomes less prominent in their lives. Recovery is about re-gaining meaningful roles in family and community life.

Empowerment is an issue of social justice and refers to the process that people go through to gain or regain the power and control over their own lives that is necessary for dignity and self-determination. It is a personal transformation which involves people moving from helpless, dependent victims to assertive, competent citizens. Empowerment requires that people have access to the means to assume responsibility for their own lives and well being. People become empowered as they assume responsibility. Empowerment is also about having a voice. To be empowered means we have a right to speak for ourselves without requiring the permission or approval of others.