Recovery by design: developing tools to initiate and sustain engagement in creative recovery from substance use and associated mental health difficulties

This research explores the use of a design tool called a cultural probe to coproduce research with individuals experiencing from substance use and mental health difficulties. The aim is to use creative research activities, directly with service users, to amplify the participant's voices and lead to discoveries on how individual recovery journeys might be supported and developed. The study uses a mixed method qualitative design research approach. The research was undertaken using participatory workshop activities and design review sessions with staff and service users. These were held at three different rehabilitation centres in Brighton and Hove during 2017-19. The collected data were analysed through thematic coding of the participant responses at each stage. The research was initially intended to engage participants and generate intervention ideas through a self-reporting method (cultural probe), as one of three initial Design Experiments. However, the data collected revealed the potential of therapeutic value for the participants who undertook the tasks. Therefore, a dedicated recovery Toolkit was developed over the course of three iterative Pilot studies, involving participatory workshops. At each stage the design was refined further through participant testing and feedback. The Toolkit is shown to engage participants in telling their unique recovery story, to share experiences and reflect on their progress. It assists in the building of creative confidence and recovery capital, which aims to reduce the likelihood of relapse. The tasks provide flexible activities which can link with established recovery methods. The Toolkit also helps participants to identify opportunities for engaging with worthwhile activities during recovery and signposts service users to relevant groups which may not be known to them. Therefore, the tool encourages and empowers participants to develop new ways of being creative and to embrace their recovery opportunities in a local community setting.