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@dragonflyblu
Yesterday as I also volunteer with a leading mental health charity I was called to a meeting about how the centre was being re-organized in attempt to improve services for the users and the term was used frequently. In order to help those 'recover' the centre will no longer allow users to drop in and socialize, volunteers will no longer be able to attend groups, users can only attend groups/services which once were basically free but will have to paid for if they receive DLA, etc.,. services will be on an appointment basis. The list goes on and talking to fellow users I feel this is not aiding recovery as the centre was a life line as many are lonely and isolated and this was the only place they felt comfortable to socialize. The argument is that users should meet away from the centre and not be dependant on it but many felt that they just could not meet outside this environment and were quite distressed. I feel it is not just places like these that are using the term to justify cuts in services. For many years I and many attended a resource centre run by the local hospital partnership trust which provided us with many vital services which we could access at a drop of a hat, support and a place we could go and tbh kept many out of hospital but again it was felt it was not aiding our 'recovery' and was closed by the trust. In practice 'recovery' could be a good thing but I can't help feeling it is being used to mask cut backs. All I can see is services disappearing and many feeling alone and vunerable.