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Have you heard of the CHIME Factors?

Recovery is about building a meaningful and satisfying life; a life worth living whether there is ongoing mental distress or not. As a recovery-orientated mental health service, we are different from a traditional ‘treat and cure’ health service. We believe that personal recovery is not about finding a ‘cure’ or ‘getting back to normal’ but is about wellbeing and learning from struggles. Personal recovery focuses on individual needs, not diagnoses.

There are 5 key features of personal recovery known as CHIME factors:

Connectedness

Having good relationships and being connected to other people in positive ways. Characterised by peer support and social groups, support from others and community.

Coming to CAMS makes me feel like I'm not alone.

Knowing who you are without being influenced by others.

Hope

Having hope and optimism that recovery is possible. Characterised by motivation to change, positive thinking and valuing effort / success, having dreams and aspirations.

Being in control of my own emotions, thoughts, and actions. Not letting what I can't control take over.

Identity

Regaining a positive sense of self and identity and overcoming stigma.

Not being ashamed of who I am.

I look forward to coming to appointments and getting a greater understanding of who I am.

Meaning

Living a meaningful and purposeful life, as defined by the person (not others). Characterised by meaning in mental illness experience, spirituality, meaningful life, and social goals.

Being supported with understanding my diagnosis and how they affect me.

I like to have all the information to feel empowered, so I know what to expect.

Empowerment

Having control over life, focusing on strengths, and taking personal responsibility.

Being able to come and be myself, without being judged.

Our recovery programme is about putting these features of personal recovery at the heart of what we do. We want patients and service users to feel they are listened to, are treated as a person not just a list of symptoms, have hope, have their experiences and feelings validated, and are given a choice in the treatment they receive from us.