Recovery orientation of services - Narrative review

Background Recovery-oriented practice in mental health has brought a fundamental change from the traditional biomedical models focusing on symptom reduction to a holistic, person-centered approach. This model emphasizes personal growth, empowerment, identity transformation, and meaningful participation in society, particularly for individuals with severe and persistent mental illness. Recovery frameworks, such as CHIME (Connectedness, Hope, Identity, Meaning, and Empowerment), guide services in supporting personal recovery. Aim This narrative review aims to synthesize literature on recovery-oriented mental health services, their principles, implementation strategies, challenges, and outcomes. Methods PubMed, Scopus, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar databases were searched, supplemented by hand-searching reference lists of relevant articles. Keywords included “recovery-oriented practice,” “mental health services,” “personal recovery,” “peer support,” “REFOCUS,” “CHIME framework,” and “low- and middle-income countries.” Empirical studies and systematic reviews published in English up to August 2025 were included. Articles were selected based on relevance to recovery principles, implementation in services, and reported outcomes. Results Recovery-oriented services (ROS) prioritize individualized care, shared decision-making, and empowerment, while integrating supports. Evidence from systematic reviews and meta-analyses shows that peer support, structured recovery programs, and wellness plans enhance recovery, although effect sizes are modest and influenced by implementation fidelity. Challenges include staff training, cultural adaptation, resource limitations, and persistent stigma. Evaluation tools offer a structured means to assess recovery orientation. Discussion Recovery is a dynamic, ongoing process rather than an outcome, requiring systemic reforms, workforce development, and active involvement of individuals with lived experience. Effective implementation depends on organizational commitment, cultural sensitivity, and addressing barriers in both inpatient and community settings.