Effectiveness of a Collaborative Recovery Training Program in Australia in Promoting Positive Views About Recovery

Abstract

This study examined the impact of a two-day, recovery-based training program for mental health workers on knowledge, attitudes, and hopefulness related to the recovery prospects of people with enduring mental illness. A self-report pre-post training repeated-measures design was used with 248 mental health workers from the community-based government health sector (N=147) and nongovernment organizations (N= 101) in eastern Australia. Staff attitudes and hopefulness improved after training. Trainees significantly increased their knowledge regarding principles of recovery and belief in the effectiveness of collaboration and consumer autonomy support, motivation enhancement, needs assessment, goal striving, and homework use. This preliminary evidence indicates that staff recovery orientation can improve with minimal training.