A message from Dr. Chris Summerville, Chief Executive Officer, Schizophrenia Society of Canada

I am most pleased and gratified to introduce this edition of Your Personal Recovery Journey (YPRJ). In many ways it represents the culmination of my more than 30 years of being involved in the schizophrenia recovery movement! When I first started, the word “recovery” was not used in conjunction with mental illness. Today the recovery philosophy is being passionately promoted by many, especially among peer support workers. The two go hand in hand!

Recovery is about finding ways to live a satisfying,
hopeful, and contributing life, even if symptoms persist.

It is a personal journey focusing on regaining control, meaning, and purpose in life. Thus, YPRJ has been developed as a foundational tool for those experiencing a mental illness or a mental health problem.

My heart-felt appreciation goes out to Fran Schellenberg our project coordinator, our Advisory Committee of lived/living experience people, and to Dr. Mike Slade and his team for the formulation of the CHIME framework upon which YPRJ is based.

For those of you who will be using YPRJ, remember that recovery is a life-long journey. Remain patient and persistent as you face the challenges of your mental illness or mental health problem.

Hope changes everything! That is the foundation of recovery.

Dr. Chris Summerville

CEO, Schizophrenia Society of Canada

“The Your Personal Recovery Journey (YPRJ) program is a significant advance for the mental health field. It is based on the recovery processes identified in our CHIME Framework, and provides a valuable evidence-based resource for anyone looking to support their own recovery. It will also be an important new tool for use by peer support organizations. I fully endorse YPRJ for use within and beyond Canada.”

Mike Slade

Professor of Mental Health Recovery and Social Inclusion
University of Nottingham