Living in the community with serious mental illness: Community integration experiences of clubhouse members
Year: 2011
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Essential components of community integration of people coping with serious mental illness entails development of social relationships with the lager community of individuals who are not identified as coping with serious mental illness.However previous research on community integration has not made an attempt to understand how people coping with serious mental illness are differentially integrated with peer/consumer/client community versus their integration experiences with the larger non-client/consumer community.The present study used the context of psychosocial clubhouses to understand how program level, individual level and family level variables are differentially associated with perceived community integration within clubhouses versus outside with clubhouse with the larger nonclient/consumer community.Data were collected from 92 adults coping with serious mental illness who were also members of psychosocial clubhouses in New York State.Findings of the present study indicate that members report greater degree of integration within the clubhouse as compared to social integration outside the clubhouse with members of the larger non-consumer/client community.Further, program level factors such as perceptions of the clubhouse environment as having a practical orientation were associated with reports of greater integration within the clubhouse but not outside the clubhouse.Conversely, level of employment, specifically independent level of employment, and feelings of self-worth were associated with greater integration outside the clubhouse but not within the clubhouse.Results also suggested that perceived family support was associated with integration within the clubhouse and outside the clubhouse with members of the larger non-consumer/client community.The findings are discussed with respect to their implications for community practice and directions for future research.iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The completion of this project represents the culmination of a long and glorious journey.This journey entailed relationships with new people, culture, knowledge and ways of thinking.It also entailed the support and love of my beloved friends and family.With all of my heart, I would like to thank both my old and new companions.As I walked with Dr. Stein, I learned to care about people with serious mental illness, I learned to translate this caring into research and community and clinical work, I learned how to do my work with fortitude and confidence and I learned to persist with my science.As I walked with committee members, I learned to cherish different perspectives and expertise and I learned to add rigor to my work.As I walked with my family, I learned the true meaning of faith; I learned that I am loved and supported eternally and immeasurably, and I learned that they can carry me long and far.As I walked with my friends, I learned the true meaning of joy and support and fun and laughter, I learned how rich life can became by the presence of a few good people.As I walked with people who cope with serious mental illness, I learned the meaning of devastation, I learned the meaning of recovery, and I learned courage and humility.And now they help me open new doors into newer worlds.
Author: Shinakee Gumber
Institution: Bowling Green State University
Language: English
Subfield: General Health Professions
Field: Health Professions
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1846395767