The mission of Recovery International is to to help individuals gain skills to lead more peaceful and productive lives. Recovery was founded in 1937 by neuropsychiatrist Dr. Abraham Low and his patients who sought to re-enter society after hospitalization, to talk about their conditions, and to eliminate the stigma of mental illness. The group was originally called “The Association of Nervous and
Former Mental Patients.” After one of their members was evicted from his rooming house because he received a letter with the Association’s return address, they decided to change the name to Recovery. The Recovery method wasn’t invented overnight—it was the result of more than 25 years of cognitive behavioral work. As the organization grew, Dr. Low realized that he needed to train others in his methods. Because he knew how overworked and understaffed many psychiatric hospitals were, he also realized the need to develop a consistent approach that could be replicated by nonprofessionals. When Dr. Low died in 1954, his widow, daughters and thousands of former patients ensured that his work continued. As the organization grew and expanded across the country and abroad, the name was changed to Recovery International.
