Therapeutic recreation: Putting the strength in strength-based approach

The purpose of this study was to understand the lived experience of mental health peers through the means of Photovoice, a Community Based Participatory Research (CBPR) method. Through the study, participants indicated positive aspects of rehabilitation of mental illness; however they also spoke about the barriers in their personal lives and social stigma that inhibited their recovery. Therapeutic Recreation Specialists (TRs) among other health professionals use the strengths-based approach and recovery oriented model in their work in the mental heath field. Peers use their internal strengths to obtain support and overcome barriers, which often promotes recovery. The findings indicate that TRs need to evaluate the amount of internal strength that this takes for mental health peers, as struggles in the strengths-based approach may currently not be valued. TRs may not be aware of the hardships that peers go through and this hinders the practitioner to look at the full person and honour the peers struggle as part of their recovery.