ABSTRACT
Health humanities champion the application of the arts and humanities in interdisciplinary research, education and social action to inform and transform health and social care, health and wellbeing. The empowerment of patients and the desire to reduce clients’ reliance on health and social care services has unfortunate associations with neoliberal politics and efforts to make services less accessible. The idea of ‘mutual recovery’ extends out of the increasingly influential notion of ‘recovery’ in mental health care—referring to the possibility of achieving a meaningful and more resilient life irrespective of mental health ‘symptoms’ or disabilities. Importantly, the notion of recovering a more resilient life and cultivating positive social and cultural connections for mental health and wellbeing through mutual practices and relationships is something that has implications beyond people with mental health conditions or challenges, or experiencing mental health crises.
