Narratives of Recovery from Mental Illness presents research that challenges the prevailing view that recovery from -mental illness- must take place within the boundaries of traditional mental health services. While Watts and Higgins accept that medical treatment may be a vital start to some people-s recovery, they argue that mental health problems can also be resolved through everyday social interactions, and through peer and community support.
Using a narrative approach, this book presents detailed recovery stories of 26 people who received various diagnoses of -mental illness- and were involved in a mutual help group known as -GROW-. Drawing on an in-depth analysis of each story, chapters offer new understandings of the journey into mental distress and a progressive entrapment through a combination of events, feelings, thoughts and relationships. The book also discusses the process of ongoing personal liberation and healing which assists recovery, and suggests that f
