Focus on human issues for mental health

A new mental health tool, the ‘Recovery Star’ shows early promise, according to researchers from St Andrew’s Healthcare, writing in the journal The Psychiatrist.

The tool, recommended for use by Government, supports service users to recovery by focusing on human issues rather than symptoms. It assists progress across areas such as uniqueness, identity, hope and self-esteem.

The study examined national data from over 200 completed reviews and found a ‘consistent and coherent recovery-oriented process’.

Lead author Dr Geoff Dickens, a mental health nurse and academic, said: “Mental health care which focuses on an individual’s needs and hopes for recovery is increasingly acknowledged as a key element in achieving positive and lasting change.

“It’s important that tools are available to help professionals to provide this recovery-orientated care. The work we have undertaken shows promising early signs that the Recovery Star has the potential to do this, and points a clear way forward for further development of the tool.”

Professor Philip Sugarman, co-author and Chief Executive Officer of St Andrew’s Healthcare says: “This study clearly shows the validity of Recovery Star as a measure of service user recovery. I am sure that this approach is the way forward for recovery-focussed care”.