So what does that mean?
National Recovery Month (Recovery Month), which started in 1989, is a national observance held every September to promote and support new evidence-based treatment and recovery practices, as well as the nation’s strong and proud recovery community, and the dedication of service providers and communities who make recovery in all its forms possible.
The main goal is for people in recovery to be visible, remove stigma, and to constantly communicate to the general public that recovery is possible.
Research has shown that even if better health or proper care is available, if people feel shame in getting help (stigma), or fear for their job security, they do not ask for help (Livingston & Boyd, 2010).
Research has proven that effective stigma reduction efforts normalize substance use disorder (SUD) diagnosis, treatment, and recovery, and increase outreach by those with SUD to services (Conner et al., 2023; Kosyluk et al., 2021).
Reducing stigma involves raising social awareness and facilitating positive contact by engaging individuals in recovery. This very public approach all month works to change critical influencers and institutional behavior by showing success stories of individuals who have achieved stability.
Once stigma is reduced, then people can more easily and willingly connect with existing care opportunities.
In addition to general awareness and ongoing anti-stigma work, Recovery Month is a time when various online tools are refreshed, and new efforts are rolled out.
SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) features most of the online recovery tools recommended to people interested in getting assistance:
https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help
New this Recovery Month: Live Tampa Bay staffers and SAMHSA have launched the first Gallery of Hope, recognizing the transformative power of the creative arts. This will become an annual competition and celebration.
https://www.samhsa.gov/recovery-month/gallery-of-hope-2024
As the month goes on, you’ll see multiple efforts, nationwide and locally, to draw attention to Recovery Month.
Here’s some events we were honored to be a part of: Buildings were lit up for Overdose Awareness Day – held on August 31 every year – the night when Recovery Month starts at midnight. Overdose Awareness Day is the world’s largest annual campaign to end overdose, remove stigma, and celebrate those in recovery.
In addition, Live Tampa Bay and the Rays celebrated Recovery Month on September 3rd. From a packed pre-meeting before the game, to videos on the Jumbotron, to Jennifer’s first pitch, to leading the 7th inning stretch, it was a night of joy at the ballpark (also the Rays won!!).
What can you do during Recovery Month?
Here are some ways to celebrate Recovery Month – for people in recovery and also those that love/employ/root for them.
Most of all, we want you to know that we are thankful for all you do to celebrate Recovery Month this and every month.
Livingston, J. D. & Boyd, J. E. (2010). Correlates and consequences of internalized stigma for people living with mental illness: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Social Science & Medicine (1982), 71(12), 2150–2161.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2010.09.030
Conner, K. O., Kosyluk, K., Tran, J. T., Anderson, E., Davis-Cotton, D., & Hill, A. M. (2023). The impact of a culturally meaningful storytelling intervention on stigma and attitudes about mental health treatment. The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease.