In November 2015, the Dundee Health and Social Care Partnership in conjunction with the Scottish Recovery Network launched a new initiative called “Making Recovery Real”. This project is the result of a partnership between a range of organisations from health and social care, and the third sector who work with people recovering from mental health issues. This partnership came together to promote and advance mental health recovery in Dundee.
By listening to, and involving people who have a lived experience of mental health issues, this project will develop recovery approaches to mental health which are entirely person-centred. By working with many mental health organisations in Dundee, Dundee Health and Social Care Partnership and the Scottish Recovery Network (link is external) are supporting this initiative and are committed to developing genuine mental health recovery in Dundee.
This project will address three priorities over the next two years:
- Place lived experience of mental health at the centre of all activities
- Develop a strategic vision for recovery in Dundee
- Improve the experiences and outcomes for people using mental health services.
In working to achieve these three priorities, this project will bring people together with the aim of ensuring that people recovering from mental health problems have greater choice and control over their lives.
There is already a strong commitment to recovery approaches in Dundee. This initiative will work with services, decision makers, and people who have lived experience to transform this commitment into reality.
The main aims of this initiative are to ensure that people who have experienced the challenge of mental health conditions are listened to, and that their experiences are valued. In drawing upon the lived experiences of people with mental health issues, services and support can be developed to help people to take control of their recovery, and to enjoy full, satisfying lives.