OBJECTIVE: Community integration is integral to recovery for individuals with severe mental illness. This study explored the integration of individuals with severe mental illness into mental health and non-mental health communities and associations with mental health service intensity. METHODS: Thirty-three ethnically diverse participants with severe mental illness were categorized in high-intensity (N=18) or low-intensity (N=15) mental health service groups. Community integration was assessed with measures of involvement in community activities, social capital resources, social support, social network maps, and subjective integration. RESULTS: Although participants rated themselves as being more integrated into the mental health community, their social networks and social capital were primarily derived from the non-mental health community. The high-intensity group had a higher proportion of members from the mental health community in their networks and had less overall social capital resources than the low-intensity group. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest opportunities and possible incongruities in the experience of community integration.
OBJECTIVE: Community integration is integral to recovery for individuals with severe mental illness. This study explored the integration of individuals with severe mental illness into mental health and non-mental health communities and associations with mental health service intensity. METHODS: Thirty-three ethnically diverse participants with severe mental illness were categorized in high-intensity (N=18) or low-intensity (N=15) mental health service groups. Community integration was assessed with measures of involvement in community activities, social capital resources, social support, social network maps, and subjective integration. RESULTS: Although participants rated themselves as being more integrated into the mental health community, their social networks and social capital were primarily derived from the non-mental health community. The high-intensity group had a higher proportion of members from the mental health community in their networks and had less overall social capital resources than the low-intensity group. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest opportunities and possible incongruities in the experience of community integration.
Authors: Elizabeth Bromley; Lisa Mikesell; Fiona Whelan; Gerhard Hellemann; Marcia Hunt; Gary Cuddeback; Daniel W Bradford; Alexander S Young Journal: Community Ment Health J Date: 2017-01-23
Authors: Rohini Pahwa; Melissa E Smith; Erin L Kelly; Ryan J Dougherty; Helle Thorning; John S Brekke; Alison Hamilton Journal: Adm Policy Ment Health Date: 2021-01
Authors: Sonya Gabrielian; Elizabeth Bromley; Gerhard S Hellemann; Robert S Kern; Nicholas I Goldenson; Megan E Danley; Alexander S Young Journal: J Clin Psychiatry Date: 2015-04 Impact factor: 5.906