For most of us, the term'recovery'in mental health implies hope and normality for those
suffering from emotional distress. It is understandable why recovery has therefore become a
significant goal for mental health services. But what does recovery mean for those who are
struggling to see it through? Is the emphasis on recovery always a positive thing. This book
takes a critical sociological look at personal and public assumptions and understandings. In
particular:-It explores what the recovery movement signifies today, offering readers a critical …

Established now as a guiding vision for contemporary mental health services, recovery
remains a hotly contested concept. Who defines recovery, what service changes are
required to give effect to the vision, and what are the implications for mental health
consumers, workers, and for psychiatry, therapy, and public policy? This book is a most
welcome addition to the extensive and growing literature on these issues, written from a
distinctively sociological framework that allows a measure of critical distance from some of …