What Does Long-Term Mental Health Recovery Look Like?
13 Feb 2023
Transitioning from structured treatment to long-term recovery might destabilize some individuals with mental health disorders. However, Samarpan Health offers a continuum of care and comprehensive support to ensure clients maintain positive changes established during treatment.
Peer and family engagement also ensures clients have additional stability during early recovery. According to Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences, "Extended families in India play an important role in providing practical, material, and emotional support to their family members with mental illness." Samarpan Health assists clients and their families in preparing for the realities of long-term recovery.
What Is Long-Term Recovery?
Treatment is a personal journey, and long-term recovery looks different for every client, depending on their goals and willingness to make significant lifestyle changes. According to the Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine, "For many people with mental illness, the concept of recovery is about staying in control of their life rather than the elusive state of return to [a] premorbid level of functioning," which "emphasizes resilience and control over problems."
In addition to being able to remain in control and functional, people in long-term recovery also need a foundation of essential skills that do the following:
- Allow them to cope with triggering events
- Reduce overall anxiety and emotional distress
- Provide them with a healthy way to identify and process intense emotions
- Offer comfort and security while promoting autonomy
Emotional wellness is directly tied to physical health, and a large part of the treatment process involves teaching clients skills that will improve their overall well-being. Long-term recovery is only possible if clients accept their current circumstances and take steps to improve their mental and physical health.
How Does Continuing Care Support Recovery?
Continuing care ensures clients maintain access to resources, support, guidance, and professional mental health care after completing our continuum of care at Samarpan Health. Some common features of continuing care include:
- Family therapy
- Individual therapy
- Trauma therapy
- Case management
- Medication management
- Peer-led self-help groups
Many clients benefit from maintaining contact with their care team and attending group therapy or other helpful treatments outside the confines of a mental health program.
4 Resources You Can Use During Long-Term Recovery
Long-term recovery involves maintaining healthy lifestyle changes while continuing the healing process. The transition from structured treatment to continuing care is often gradual and takes place at the client's pace to ensure the best outcome. Samarpan Health prioritizes family engagement and client autonomy, creating a welcoming environment where clients can feel supported and challenged. Below are four essential resources clients can use to maintain long-term recovery.
#1. Family and Close Friends
A client's family and close friends make up most of their support system during long-term recovery. Family members and close friends often benefit from attending family or individual therapy to ensure they know how best to support their loved ones. Some communities also have self-help groups where peers and families support one another.
Family and friends can help by doing the following:
- Providing accountability
- Offering inspiration and motivation
- Providing a judgment-free space
- Encouraging healthy self-expression
Clients often benefit from working closely with their care team to repair and strengthen close relationships during treatment.
#2. Your Care Team
The care team is an integral part of a client's support system. Clinicians and support staff assist clients in understanding how their thoughts and beliefs influence their behaviour. In addition, the care team and support staff model positive mental health and show clients practical ways to cope with stressors, conflict, and unexpected social situations. The care team has a unique perspective and can offer essential advice and support during long-term recovery.
#3. Community-Based Recovery Support Services
Long-term recovery usually involves peer support and community-based services like in-person or online self-help groups. Clients can collaborate with their care team to create a plan for continuing care than involves community-based recovery resources.
#4. Long-Term Recovery and Peer Support Groups
Peer support groups are vital to long-term recovery for many clients because the meetings provide a safe space for self-expression and learning. Clients feel less isolated and alone if they engage with a community of peers that share similar life experiences. Often they become part of a mentor/mentoree relationship that helps them maintain accountability and healthy life changes.
In long-term recovery, clients may start to feel "all better" and stop taking their medication or following up with their continuing care. Peers can help clients stay on track by offering advice and becoming role models to others in the community.
Long-Term Recovery Can Reduce Dangers
Mental health disorders and substance misuse increases a person's risk of experiencing trauma, injury, illness, or death. Continuing care during ongoing recovery protects clients from potential dangers. Samarpan Health guides clients through preparing for aftercare by ensuring they develop crisis management and relapse prevention strategies. Our programs give clients access to essential skills that decrease their risk of relapse. Clients can successfully heal from mental health issues.
Many clients face unexpected challenges and stressors during ongoing recovery that impact their mental health. Treatment programs like the ones offered at Samarpan Health prepare clients for these events. Recovery looks different for each client, and often it involves building a foundation of healthy coping skills and strengthening social relationships to ensure they feel safe and comfortable. Most clients slowly begin to feel more confident in their ability to maintain positive mental health during treatment. However, the transition into continuing care may feel destabilizing for some clients. Samarpan Health ensures they have the necessary skills and resources to cope with long-term recovery. To learn more about our programs, call us at +91 81809 19090.