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What Is Mental Health Recovery?

At LifeWorks OT, we believe mental health recovery is about more than just symptom reduction. It is about rebuilding a life that feels meaningful, purposeful and connected, even if mental health challenges remain part of the journey. Recovery is about helping people to live well, to engage in life, and to regain a sense of agency and hope.

Defining Recovery

Various frameworks define mental health recovery as a process of change through which people improve their health and wellbeing, live a self‑directed life and strive to reach their full potential. The American Occupational Therapy Association states that occupational therapy’s domain of “health, wellbeing and participation in life through engagement in occupation” is directly aligned with recovery‑oriented practice. Recovery emphasises hope, meaning, choice, connection and empowerment rather than simply the absence of illness.

Why Occupational Therapy Matters in Recovery

Occupational therapists are well placed to support recovery because we focus on doing, on meaningful activities, on participation and routines. We support people not just to feel better, but to live better. Evidence shows occupational therapy interventions help adults with serious mental illness to re‑engage with meaningful occupations, improve functional capacity, manage everyday routines and reduce disability.


Occupational therapy works by:

  • Identifying personal goals, strengths and values and then helping build life stories around those.

  • Supporting routines, roles and rituals that give structure, purpose and belonging.
    Working with the person’s environment, social supports, habits and community participation, not just internal symptoms.

  • Helping to develop coping skills, sensory or emotional regulation, executive functioning strategies and reconnecting with meaningful occupation.


What Recovery Looks Like in Everyday Life

Recovery is unique for each person. It might include:

  • Rebuilding a morning routine and meaningful daily structure.

  • Returning to study, work or volunteering that supports identity and contribution.

  • Engaging in social activities, community participation or hobbies which had fallen away.

  • Developing strategies to manage emotional distress, fatigue, or cognitive impact so daily life becomes manageable.

  • Shifting from “what’s wrong with me” to “what matters to me” and how I can live by that.

As occupational therapists we help people reflect on what’s meaningful, set goals based on that, test new ways of doing, adapt the environment and habits, and support incremental progress.

Barriers & How OT Helps

Some common barriers in recovery include: low motivation, fatigue, disrupted routines, diminished roles, social isolation, poor structure and environment that undermines participation. Occupational therapy addresses each of these: for example by establishing graded engagement in activity, adapting tasks and environment, supporting executive function and building meaningful social connection.

How to Support Recovery - For Clients and Referrers

For clinical referrers and clients consider the following:

  • Ask: Is this person struggling to engage in meaningful roles or activities? Are routines disrupted? Is social participation compromised?

  • Consider referral to occupational therapy when the functional impact (daily living, roles, participation) is significant.

  • Recognise that recovery is not linear; setbacks are part of the process.

  • Support collaboration with the OT, psychologist, GP and other supports to build a holistic plan.

At LifeWorks OT we partner with clients to co‑design interventions grounded in their life story, their values and their environment. We help them build skills, adapt tasks, redesign routines and create opportunities for meaningful occupation and live life well.




References

Australian Government Department of Health. (2013). National Framework for Recovery‑Oriented Mental Health Services.

Capable for recovery‑oriented practice in mental health occupational therapy. (Year). [Extracted from research] Western Sydney University

Griffin Lannigan E & Noyes S. (2019). Occupational therapy interventions for adults living with serious mental illness. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 73(5), 7305395010p1‑p5. AOTA Research

Supporting self‑determination in mental health recovery: Strategies for occupational therapy practice. (Year).

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