National Recovery Month (September)
National Recovery Month, which started in 1989, is observed every September to promote and support new evidence-based treatment and recovery practices, the nation’s strong and proud recovery community, and the dedication of service providers and communities who make recovery possible.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) defines recovery as a process of change through which individuals improve their health and wellness, live self-directed lives, and strive to reach their full potential. Recovery signals a dramatic shift in the expectation for positive outcomes for individuals who experience mental and substance use conditions or the co-occurring of the two.
With the right treatment, support, and resources, recovery is REAL (Restoring Every Aspect of Life) for everyone. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of people in or seeking recovery from mental and substance use disorders.
SAMHSA focuses on the four major dimensions of recovery: health, home, community, and purpose. These are the building blocks that all people need to live healthy, happy, independent lives and to reach their full potential.
- Recovery starts with caring for your whole self.
- Fuel your recovery with things that give your life meaning and joy.
- Recovery is the foundation to a healthy and happy home.
- Recovery is a Family Affair.
- Recovery is learning to say, “I need help.”
- A strong recovery network starts with one word: Welcome.
- You are not alone. You matter to the people in your life.
- Recovery is a way to care for yourself every day.
- Your recovery experience can save someone’s life.
For more information and resources regarding National Recovery Month, visit: https://www.samhsa.gov/about/digital-toolkits/recovery-month
