Some examples of these are support structures and advance treatment directives. It is described as a paternalistic approach because it assumes that people who are mentally ill cannot make rational decisions, and therefore, the physician takes charge of their care and makes most treatment decisions. The medical model approach to mental illness treatment is gradually being replaced by the recovery-oriented system of care. People who used to be thought of as patients are now considered consumers of mental health services working towards recovery. They are active participants in the recovery process, and many professionals are involved in their recovery plan.
Recovery is tailored to the individual's own potential.
For one person recovery may mean getting out of bed, taking a shower, or having dinner, and while for another, it may mean going to school, getting a job, and cultivating social relationships. Recovery is not a cure to mental illness, but a road to mental health that is constantly evolving. Last year, the Governor's Blue Ribbon Commission on Mental Health studied the state's mental health system and concluded that the state should implement a system of care that makes access to community services easier, provides education about mental illness, gives consumers and family members an active role in obtaining services, and increases reimbursement rates for mental health services. The approach assumes that in most cases mental illness cannot be cured, but, with proper supports and services, people can regain their self-esteem and positive identity, have a meaningful role in society, and possibly live independently. The department has taken the following steps, among others, to promote the recovery-oriented system of care.