An accomplished psychiatrist, Dr. Sridhar Yaratha is a psychiatrist at Gateway Homes where he manages patients suffering from various chronic mental illnesses. In addition, he manages his private office practice in Richmond, Virginia. Throughout his career, Dr. Sridhar Yaratha has facilitated numerous seminars on different topics including recovery from mental health illnesses.

Recovery from mental illness should extend beyond a patient feeling better. The best recovery is one that assists patients to achieve the highest level of independent functioning and live a quality life. A holistic recovery process emphasizes that while patients may not be able to fully control their symptoms, they can be in control of their personal lives. This recovery approach aims to improve intellectual, social, and emotional skills to live and work in a community.

In a holistic recovery approach, the goal is to help patients suffering from mental health to view life beyond existence and survival and encourages them to set new goals and move forward with life. Patients should also build new relationships to add value to their lives. For a holistic recovery to be successful, there needs to be optimism and support beginning from the patients themselves, their families, friends, mental health experts, social services, public health teams, and the wider community. The recovery process relies on a well-organized support system and needs creative approaches from stakeholders to facilitate faster and effective recovery.