Service Users' Perspectives on Recovery-Oriented Care in Mental Health Services: A Cross-Sectional Survey Exploring Involvement, Autonomy, and Empowerment

ObjectiveRecovery-oriented care has become a central framework in contemporary mental health services, emphasizing service user involvement, autonomy, and empowerment. This study aimed to explore service users’ perspectives on recovery-oriented practices within mental health services and examine how involvement, autonomy, and empowerment are experienced in everyday care. Research Design and MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted among adults with lived experience of mental health services. Participants completed a questionnaire assessing experiences of recovery-oriented care, including perceived involvement in care decisions, support for meaningful activities, and perceived control over their lives. Descriptive statistical analyses were used to summarize participants’ responses. ResultsParticipants generally reported moderate levels of involvement and empowerment, while experiences of autonomy and support for engaging in meaningful activities were more limited. Many participants indicated that they experienced control over their lives only to some extent, and a substantial proportion reported little support for pursuing activities that were personally meaningful. These findings suggest that although recovery-oriented principles are widely promoted in mental health policy and practice, their implementation in everyday services remains uneven. ConclusionsThe findings highlight gaps between recovery-oriented policy ideals and service users’ lived experiences in mental health services. Strengthening opportunities for meaningful participation, autonomy, and shared decision-making may be essential for advancing recovery-oriented practice and improving service users’ recovery outcomes.