This article presents Mental Health Reform’s perspective on the recovery ethos for mental health service delivery derived from Irish stakeholders’ perspectives. It arose out of a project to develop Mental Health Reform’s agenda for advocacy to implement A Vision for Change. The article describes five core components of a recovery-orientated service: hope, listening, choice, partnership and social inclusion. The article also describes briefly how each component can be reflected in mental health service delivery. The recovery ethos can provide a way forward for service delivery within the current economic crisis and may be viewed as a tool for responding positively to the crisis rather than an additional burden.