For many years it was thought that people did not recover from serious mental illness.We have now seen that many people can recover their health assisted by the efforts of family and friends combined with readily available quality treatment programs.

The impact of mental illness on family life can be devastating. It can involve personal psychological trauma, grief and loss, place relationships under serious strain, result in loss of income, and derail future plans. People and their carers, who are just surviving on a day to day basis with serious mental illness in their family may wonder how helpful it is to talk about recovery.

Over time, carers and families too can experience recovery. It may take time, it may not be predictable, but there is always the hope of getting more of your own life back. In time, carers and families, can start to think of future plans and see that there is the possibility of a hopeful future living with mental illness.

The language of recovery has been used over the last ten years, largely by the mental health consumer movement to focus on the hope and reality that in fact most people do recover (to some degree or other) from a mental illness.

The dictionary meaning of recovery is to ‘regain possession or use or control of’ something, in this case your own life, mental health and well being.

The recovery movement uses the term in a conservative manner to indicate that a mentally ill person will recover a significant amount, if perhaps not all, of their capacities that have been affected by mental illness.

Pat Deegan is a great example of a person who has experienced recovery from mental illness and  managed a successful life and career. She writes about her experiences on her website: www.patdeegan.com

MHCAA member organisations use the language of recovery and recovery orientated approaches to assist people with mental illness to make a new start and to live successfully in the community.

National Empowerment Centre
The National Empowerment Centre in the United States is a powerhouse of information on the consumer movement and recovery. Visit their website on -  www.power2u.org

RESTORE program is a voluntary program targeting families and carers of people with co-occurring mental illness and substance abuse issues who have had contact with the criminal justice system. It also targets families and carers whose family member is at risk of being involved in the criminal justice system, this could mean families and carers who are experiencing fear inducing behaviours but may not have reported it.

Families & carers can include: Family of origin (parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc.); families of procreation (co-parents, children); partners and carers. Program goal: to improve the wellbeing of families and carers of people with mental health and alcohol/drug issues who have had contact with the criminal justice system.
 
Assistance provided included outreach, counselling, case management, advocacy, education and mediation for families and carers of the target group.

Eligibility
Families & carers of people with co-occurring mental illness and substance abuse issues who have had contact with the criminal justice system. The person with the mental health issue should be co-currently supported by SMHS or area mental health service. However some exceptional circumstances and flexibility are allowed.

Referral
Phone ACSO switch on (03) 9413 7000/ (03) 9413 7069. For further information please contact Irene Watkins, Restore Program Coordinator iwatkins@acso.org.au.