Barriers to social network interventions with persons with severe and persistent mental illness: a survey of mental health case managers.

In order to empirically assess the existence, strength, and relative influence of barriers to social network interventions for persons with severe mental disability which have been cited in the literature, a survey of the knowledge and attitudes of social networks and social network interventions of eighty mental health case managers and case management supervisors was conducted. Findings indicate gaps in case managers' level of knowledge of social networks, with items based on empirical knowledge about social networks and severe mental disability least likely to be answered correctly. Case managers both perceive, and have experienced, a significant number of obstacles that affect their ability to develop social network interventions-system barriers (paperwork, caseload size, lack of case manager time, etc.), community barriers (stigma and lack of resources), and client/family barriers (lack of interest in social networks, clients having a "burnt out" network, clients not wanting to identify social network needs, etc.). Case managers cited few major barriers pertaining to their own level of knowledge, skills, or interest in, social network interventions. Strategies to address identified barriers are presented.