Recovery grows up

Recovery has come of age. The recovery approach has gained traction in mental health policy throughout the English-speaking world, and – at least rhetorically – within mental health systems internationally (Slade, Amering, & Oades, 2008). But with age comes responsibility. An idea can initiate change, but that change must work in practice if it is to be sustained.

This special issue on recovery marks a shift from ideology to empirical investigation. The studies report data addressing important questions. We begin by identifying some ideological statements made by recovery proponents, and reviewing recent evidence relating to these beliefs. We then consider some of the scientific challenges in investigating recovery.