Recovery as policy in mental health services: Strategies emerging from thestates

The concept of recovery has emerged as a significant paradigm in the field of public mental health services This paper outlines how the concept is bei ng implemented in the policies and practices of mental health systems in th e United States. After a brief overview of the historical background of rec overy and a description of the common themes that have emerged across the r ange of Its definitions, the paper describes the specific strategies being used by the states to implement recovery principles, The authors conclude b y raising key questions about the implications of adopting recovery as syst em policy.