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The influential Sainsbury Centre report, Making Recovery a Reality (Shepherd et al, 2008), talks about clinical and social aspects of recovery. The issue of psychological recovery is not discussed at length, although other workers have put forward a psychological model of recovery (Andresen et al, 2003). While there are numerous definitions of recovery, the one developed by Gordon, the focus of this profile, is unlikely to be matched for its parsimony. Gordon describes recovery as ‘coping with your illness and trying to have a meaningful life’ (McManus, 2008). In this paper, he outlines his background. He is then interviewed by Sarah Morgan about his life, illness and recovery. Finally, Jerome gives an appreciation of his contribution to our developing understanding of recovery.

The purpose of this paper is to review the 16 published non-student Recovery Heroes and Remarkable Lives accounts published in Mental Health and Social Inclusion, using the connection, hope, identity, meaning and empowerment (CHIME) framework.

All 16 accounts were rated independently by four researchers and evaluated in terms of whether each account met the five criteria for the CHIME model.

All accounts met the criteria for the CHIME model, with the exception of one, which still met four of the five criteria. Evidence was presented which suggests that the model can be extended to creativity, connectedness, hope, identity, meaning and empowerment (C-CHIME), to incorporate creativity.

While a certain level of subjectivity is required in deciding how each account meets the CHIME criteria, there were high levels of inter-rater reliability within the research team. Creativity had a central place in all the accounts.

The revised C-CHIME model can be used by practitioners to examine accounts of recovery in a more focussed manner and may also help in devising recovery action plans.

The recovery model privileges both professional and lived experience perspectives on recovery. The current review highlights how much we can benefit from the wisdom contained in first person accounts.

This review adds to the existing literature and highlights the importance of creativity for mental health recovery.

There has been a huge increase in the literature and resources devoted to the topic of recovery. Unusually in the mental health field, recovery is a concept that has been embraced by service users, professionals, mental health planners and governments. In this review, the authors offer a selection of what they feel are the top 10 on the topic of recovery in the following categories: journal papers; policy papers and reports; books; and websites. Gordon McManus gives his personal thoughts on his reading around recovery. The review ends with some reflections on the topic.

Margaret's story concludes our short series on recovery heroes. This series started with Dolly Sen, followed by Peter Chadwick, Gordon McManus and Matt Ward. Four of the five people featured were from our local service at South London and Maudsley NHS Trust. We have defined recovery heroes as individuals whose journeys of recovery can inspire both service users and professionals alike. Margaret once commented that, ‘all service users are recovery heroes’. It is fitting that the series should end with her own story.

The aim of this paper is to describe how the authors made a film about recovery.

A number of service users were auditioned for the Recovery Film and four chosen to participate. The film was directed and edited by the second author who has lived experience of mental health problems.

Five main themes are covered in the film: the experience of being mentally ill; causes of peoples' mental illness; personal definitions of recovery; what helps people; and the process of recovery for each of the four participants.

The Recovery Film was short‐listed for a Mind Media Award, has been shown at a number of national conferences and is available on the internet.

The purpose of this paper is to provide a profile of Rachel Taylor.

Rachel provides a short biographical account and is then interviewed by Jerome. In the biography the search for happiness and belonging is discussed.

Rachel talks about focusing on what we are good at, what we love and how discovery can light that spark of hope that there can be better than what has gone before.

Rachel’s story shows the potential that lies not just within some of us, but all of us. It is but one story, but its message is sure to touch many.

How do services promote hope and build resilience and wellbeing? While another service user said recovery was about “coping with your illness and having a meaningful life” (McManus et al., 2009), services have perhaps focused too much on symptom reduction and not enough on helping people find meaning and purpose.

Rachel asks the question is Positive Psychology a movement for all or is it just for the elite?

Rachel is someone who has discovered for herself the benefits of Positive Psychology. Hopefully Rachel’s own discovery will lead to bringing this promising approach to people with mental health problems.

This paper aims to provide a profile of Andrew Voyce.

Andrew gives a short biography and is then interviewed by Jerome. Areas covered in the interview include the central role of Mrs Thatcher in closing down the old asylums, homelessness, education, benefits and digital art.

Andrew's recovery from long term mental health problems has seen him return to higher education. He failed to get his undergraduate degree, but decades later and with the encouragement of workers in the community, he completed both undergraduate and postgraduate studies. He talks of the negative impact of asylum care, especially the terrible side effect of akathisia, which resulted from the depot neuroleptic medication.

This paper shows a remarkable journey of recovery, from a life of being a “revolving door” patient, to homelessness, to re‐establishing an ordinary life in the community. The inmate's perspective is one that has largely been absent from narratives of asylum care.

The purpose of this paper is to provide a profile of Shaun Hunt.

Shaun provides a short biographical description of his life. Shaun is then interviewed by Jerome.

Shaun tells us about the long journey of recovery that he has made to the point where he is now a University Lecturer.

In large group studies the individual gets lost in statistical tables and the lived experience is absent. Single case studies provide us with stories to nurture and encourage us all.

Shaun says that we often miss the obvious question in our interactions with people with lived experience. “What happened to you?” seems a simple but telling conversation opener.

As Shaun says there are some amazing people who work in mental health services, but they are the ones who spoke to him and not to a “schizophrenic”.

As Shaun also says, “Never, ever give up hope, no matter how dark and bad things become, there is always a way back”.

The purpose of this paper is to suggest that student-led case studies are an important way to learn about mental health problems and to highlight this by presenting a case study of the comedic genius Spike Milligan.

Celebrities live their lives in the public eye. In recent years, many have talked about their struggles with mental health. This paper is based on a student-led case study of the celebrity Spike Milligan.

This case study suggests one previously under-emphasised issue and argues that Spike Milligan’s wartime experiences may have led to post-traumatic stress disorder. Second, that he may have developed neuro-inflammation, through contracting sandfly fever during the war. This could have been an additional trigger for bipolar disorder.

While this is a single case study, it draws on a wide variety of research sources to back up the arguments advanced.

Student-led case studies provide a way of engaging students more actively with mental health problems.

Mental illness is complex, if not more complex, than physical health problems. Case studies of celebrities like Spike Milligan can help develop a public understanding of mental illness, as they already have a working knowledge about the person.

The case study illustrates how Bipolar 1 disorder is a complex and unique condition and that every individual’s illness has different predisposing characteristics. It suggests that student-led case studies are a helpful learning tool.

The purpose of this paper is to share Kirsty Lilley’s story.

Kirsty wrote a biographic piece detailing her journey, then shared a creative piece of writing about trust before being interviewed by Robert.

Kirsty shared stories from her life and how her experiences have shaped who she is. In Trust, she gives the reader an intimate insight into her internal and psychological experiences.

Recovery narratives such as this give us an overview of only a single person’s experiences. However, they allow the person with lived experience to explore their story in depth.

Kirsty writes evocatively – her stories will connect with readers.

There is so much to learn from stories such as Kirsty’s. For those who have had similar experiences and for those who work in mental health services.

This is the first time that Kirsty has chosen to share her unique story. It is also the first time in Remarkable Lives that a piece of creative writing has been included alongside a biography.