How Can We Foster the Right to Healing? A Literary Contest to Gather and Publicize "Recovery Stories". Issue 1 (2nd January 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tibaldi, Giuseppe; Govers, Lia
• Is Part Of: International journal of mental health. Volume 45:Issue 1(2016)
• Page Start: 89
• Page End: 96
• Publication Date: 2016-01-02
• Subjects: schizophrenia -- recovery -- personal accounts -- hope; Mental health -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Mental health; Psychiatry; Periodicals; 616.89005
• DOI: 10.1080/00207411.2016.1138805
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0020-7411

Abstract

Abstract: In the latest years, the prejudice of incurability—which drives habits and choices of many professionals and other relevant stakeholders—has been brought into crisis. The "objective evidence" emerging from the results of many long-term outcome studies found full confirmation in the "subjective truth" that derives from recovery stories. Recovery stories played a crucial role for both authors, promoting a change in their understanding of the meanings of the experience they shared as well as in their following professional and personal choices. The comprehensibility of the psychotic experience is a crucial premise for both the reading and drafting of autobiographical accounts. Many survivors of the psychotic experience define recovery as the capacity of taking back the reins of their existence in their own hands, and most of the personal accounts show this specific path to empowerment. As stated in this article, " Writing about one's past mental disorders, about the path of recovery, is definitely not an economically-rewarding activity, but it leads you to regain full ownership of yourself, to reach a full awareness of yourself and your story, as well as providing inspirational material for professionals, laics, and other users. " The Literary Contest "Storie di Guarigione" as well as this article represent only two of the multiple initiatives aimed at increasing the quantity and quality of written accounts. Promoting these accounts should be considered both a "good practice" for professionals and a "form of solidarity" for survivors.