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Mental Health Awareness Modules

Recovery

A practical three-hour course for organisations and groups that want people to better understand mental health recovery, challenge assumptions about what recovery should look like and offer support in ways that respect the individual’s choices, strengths and goals.

Enquire about this course
Duration 3 hours
Group size 8–20 people
Delivery Interactive group training
Location Across Scotland
Overview

About this course

Mental health recovery does not always mean returning to how things were before, becoming symptom-free or following a predictable path. For many people, recovery is about finding ways to live a meaningful life alongside ongoing challenges, building on strengths, making choices and working towards goals that matter to them.

The attitudes of people around someone can make a difference. Pessimism, stigma, assumptions about personal responsibility or pressure to recover in a particular way can leave people feeling misunderstood or judged. Support is more useful when it recognises that recovery is personal, can involve setbacks and may look different for each individual.

This three-hour module explores some of the principles associated with mental health recovery, including hope, self-determination, social connection and practical support. Participants consider how to listen well, recognise when someone may need additional help, encourage without taking over and maintain appropriate boundaries while supporting others.

Is this course right for your group?

Designed for

Workplaces, professional teams, healthcare professionals, educators, community organisations, volunteers and other groups where people may find themselves supporting someone experiencing mental health difficulties or recovery.

Particularly useful if

  • People think of recovery only as being completely symptom-free or “back to normal”.
  • Your group would benefit from understanding that recovery can be personal, non-linear and different for each individual.
  • Pessimism, stigma or assumptions about personal responsibility may be influencing how people respond to someone experiencing mental health difficulties.
  • People want to offer useful encouragement without taking over, pushing solutions or deciding what recovery should look like for someone else.
  • Your group would benefit from clearer boundaries around supporting others and recognising when further help may be needed.
For your organisation

What this can help your organisation achieve

A more realistic understanding of recovery

Help people move beyond simplistic ideas of “getting better” and develop a more informed understanding of recovery as an individual and sometimes non-linear process.

More supportive responses

Build confidence in listening, encouraging and responding in ways that respect the person’s own choices, strengths and goals rather than trying to direct their recovery.

Clearer roles and boundaries

Help people understand the difference between being supportive and taking responsibility for someone else’s recovery, including when professional or additional support may be appropriate.

Outcomes

What you’ll learn

Understand recovery as a personal process

Explore recovery as something that can involve hope, choice, self-determination and meaningful goals rather than simply the absence of symptoms.

Recognise the impact of attitudes and stigma

Consider how pessimism, judgement, fear and assumptions about personal responsibility can affect someone who is working towards recovery.

Listen and communicate supportively

Use active listening and empathic communication to give someone space to talk about what matters to them without rushing to advise, direct or solve.

Offer encouragement without taking over

Consider practical ways to support someone’s choices, strengths and goals while recognising that recovery belongs to the individual.

Know when further support may be needed

Think about early changes, personal boundaries and when professional or additional support may be appropriate.

Course content

What we’ll cover

Understanding mental health recovery

We look at recovery as a personal process that may involve managing ongoing difficulties, building on strengths and working towards a meaningful life rather than following one fixed path.

Hope, choice and self-determination

Participants explore the importance of hope, personal agency and allowing the individual to have a meaningful say in their own goals, decisions and support.

Communication and active listening

The module considers how listening well, responding with empathy and avoiding assumptions can help create more open and useful conversations about recovery.

Recognising when someone may need more support

We consider some of the changes or concerns that may suggest someone is struggling and how to encourage appropriate support without trying to diagnose or manage the situation yourself.

Practical support without taking over

Participants explore ways to offer encouragement, information and practical help while respecting the person’s independence, preferences and own pace of recovery.

Boundaries and looking after yourself

Supporting someone through difficult periods can be demanding. The session includes space to consider personal boundaries, your own wellbeing and why supporting someone does not mean carrying responsibility for their recovery.

Course format

What to expect

Three-hour session

A focused three-hour module with time to explore the principles and practicalities of recovery without requiring a full-day course.

Small groups

Groups are usually kept to 8–16 people, allowing time for discussion, questions and participation.

Interactive learning

The session uses a mixture of presentation, group discussion, case studies, videos and practical activities rather than relying on slides alone.

Respectful discussion

Clear expectations around confidentiality and respect help participants ask questions and explore different experiences and perspectives on recovery without judgement.

Green Ribbons

Why Green Ribbons?

Green Ribbons was founded by Jean Pryde after 30 years working in mental health settings. That experience sits behind a practical, plain-speaking approach to training that takes difficult subjects seriously without making them harder to talk about than they need to be.

Based in Moray and working across Scotland, Green Ribbons has delivered training for organisations including Diageo, Macallan and the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, alongside professional bodies and community groups.

Booking

What happens next

1

Tell us what you're looking for

Tell us a little about your organisation or group, who the training is for and what you would like it to help with.

2

We'll talk it through

We'll discuss whether this module is the right fit, answer your questions and talk through the practical arrangements.

3

Arrange the training

If you'd like to go ahead, we'll agree the date, location and arrangements with you.

Enquire

Interested in this training?

Tell us a little about your group and what you’re looking for. We can talk through whether this course is the right fit and the practical arrangements.

You’re enquiring about Recovery

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