TY - JOUR AB - Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine three recent papers on mental health services and how they support recovery following a diagnosis of a severe mental health condition.Design/methodology/approach A search was carried out for recent papers on mental health and recovery. The author selected three papers that seemed to advance understanding of not only whether, but also how recovery of a meaningful life may be best supported in mental health services.Findings One paper suggested how staff were able to support service users’ personal goals and focus on recovery in acute inpatient settings, and what got in the way. The author suggests practical ways to address the barriers. A second paper reported the testing of a new model for supporting staff in primary and secondary care to work together so that service users with a diagnosis of bipolar or schizophrenia were better supported to work towards valued goals. A third paper reviewed 40 studies of how people can experience positive change after a first diagnosis of psychosis, and how change happened.Originality/value By studying the issues in detail, all three papers show how improved support for recovery and inclusion can be implemented against the backdrop of many years of service shortcomings. VL - 24 IS - 1 SN - 2042-8308 DO - 10.1108/MHSI-11-2019-0037 UR - https://doi.org/10.1108/MHSI-11-2019-0037 AU - Holttum Sue PY - 2020 Y1 - 2020/01/01 TI - Research watch: what really helps recovery in relation to severe mental health difficulties? T2 - Mental Health and Social Inclusion PB - Emerald Publishing Limited SP - 6 EP - 12 Y2 - 2024/05/11 ER -