write to recoveryA new website designed by the Scottish Recovery Network (SRN) to empower people with mental ill health has been described by the Scottish Minister for Public Health as "a valuable tool for people on the journey to recovery from mental health issues".

The Write to Recovery site was officially launched at the Scottish Storytelling Centre in Edinburgh by renowned author Linda Gillard.

The first website its kind in Scotland, Write to Recovery helps people create and take control of their own personal stories. It responds to a growing body of evidence around the important role that writing, sharing, listening to and learning from others plays in the recovery journey.

Michael Matheson, Minister for Public Health, said: "The Scottish Recovery Network should be praised for creating the Write to Recovery story-sharing website. It will give valuable support to people with mental health issues on their journey to recovery.

"It’s important to remember that although a quarter the Scottish population will experience a mental health problem at some point in their lives, recovery is not only possible but likely. This website will aid that recovery by helping people to realise they are not alone."

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The launch of the website also celebrates SRN’s 10 year anniversary. It builds on a successful history of using narrative research – learning from people’s personal experiences – to increase knowledge and understanding of mental health recovery.

Simon Bradstreet, SRN director, added: "When SRN was launched 10 years ago we were confident that the best way to raise awareness of the reality of recovery from mental health problems was to find ways to share and learn from personal experiences. That confidence has proved well founded and Write to Recovery offers an important new tool as we continue to push for a Scotland where mental health recovery can be a reality for all."