Abstract
<p>Introduction: Whilst mental health recovery is well studied through interviews and qualitative analyses, little information is available on how the processes unfold to catalyse change at specific points over the life course. This study aims to explore the experiences of turning points that facilitate recovery and the internal and external factors that enable these experiences of change.Methods: This study used life course approaches and semi-structured interviews to explore people’s experiences of turning points towards recovery. Twelve participants with a history of recovery from mental health challenges were recruited via social media and posters displayed in the community. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to analyse the data.Results: Five main themes were identified, which were delineated into external and internal recovery processes. The external processes were Contextual Influences and Interpersonal Dynamics. The internal processes were Agency and Ownership, Transformative Insights, and Healing from Within.Conclusion: The findings were consistent with the wider literature. Clinical implications of the research include creating environmental contexts that facilitate recovery, offering community-focused approaches to mental health care, and involving stakeholders in service development and provision.</p>