NSG 325 - Psych Test 1 Study Guide. Concept of Mental Health “recovery” • Recovery is defined as “a process of change through which individuals improve their health and wellness, live a self-directed life, and strive to reach their full potential.” • Recovery evolved into a consumer-focused process “in which people are able to live, work, learn, and participate fully in their communities” • A characteristic of mental health, increasingly being promoted and essential to ...