Recovery Concepts in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)

Background: Empirical research on the outcomes and psychological mechanisms of recovery in child and adolescents with mental health disorder remains underdeveloped.In its concept state, recovery can be a challenge for clinicians to successfully embed into professional clinically directed treatment.Aim: To explore the concepts of recovery in child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) and its successful embedding in mental health care delivery.Methods: This integrative review explored recovery in CAMHS by utilising Cooper's five stages (1982) [1], with revision, dimensions/project formulation, data collection, evaluation of data for suitability, data analysis, interpretation and presentation of results.Findings: Thematic analysis elicited themes designated as necessary to recovery.Themes include the importance of co-production in practice with family, professionals and General Practitioner (GP) care, thus embedding the principles of recovery into care in CAMHS and the challenges to achieving positive outcomes during recovery.Screening assessment tools and patient and professional experiences are explored alongside the barriers and facilitators to navigating recovery in CAMHS, with emphasis on difficulties encountered and outcomes during transitioning from CAMHS to adult mental health services (AMHS).Application to practice: Consistent differences exist in care philosophies between CAMHS and AMHS which emphasises client autonomy and individual responsibility.Better understanding of these differences and collaborative planning and service delivery may foster shared approaches to meeting the needs of transitioning youths, and ultimately aid recovery.