The recovery concept has been widely integrated into mental health policy, services, and research. However, its applicability across diverse contexts and populations remains a subject of ongoing critique. This paper discusses key issues pertaining to the suitability of implementing the recovery approach in child and youth mental health services, including adult-centric foundations of the recovery concept; limited multi-stakeholder participatory research; privileging individualistic ideologies; differences in developmental stages; differences in illness trajectory, mental health experiences, and service provider interactions; and different systems of care and social environments. The paper concludes with recommendations for future research.
