(1/2/2013)

Welcome to Recovery Month 2013: Together on Pathways to Wellness

Every September, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), sponsors National Recovery Month (Recovery Month) to increase awareness and understanding of mental and/or substance use disorders. This celebration promotes the message that behavioral health is essential to health, prevention works, treatment is effective, and people do recover.

The 2013 Recovery Month theme, “Join the Voices for Recovery: Together on Pathways to Wellness,” represents the many ways that people can prevent behavioral health issues, seek treatment, and sustain recovery as part of a commitment to living a mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually healthy life. The theme also highlights that people are not alone on this journey to seek total health every day. Family, friends, and community members can support individuals throughout the entire recovery process. The theme also emphasizes that there are many paths to wellness, including professional treatment, medical care, self-help, and group support, and each person embarks on his or her own unique path.

The annual Recovery Month observance aligns with SAMHSA’s mission to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America’s communities. It supports many of SAMHSA’s Strategic Initiatives, including preventing mental and/or substance use disorders, promoting recovery and resilience, and increasing public understanding. 

Participate in Recovery Month by adding the Recovery Month 2013 web banner to your website, posting Recovery Month widgets on your website, sharing public service announcement videos, connecting with us on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, planning a recovery event, as well as many other ways to get involved.

Keywords: 2013 theme, Recovery Month 2013