Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gvvz8 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-12T10:43:58.710Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

‘I didn't like just sittin’ around all day’: Facilitating Social and Community Participation Among People with Mental Illness and High Levels of Psychiatric Disability

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 March 2010

KRISTY MUIR ,
KAREN R FISHER ,
DAVID ABELLO  and
ANN DADICH
KRISTY MUIR
Affiliation:
Disability Studies and Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, Australia email: [email protected]
KAREN R FISHER
Affiliation:
Social Policy Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, Australia
DAVID ABELLO
Affiliation:
Social Policy Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, Australia
ANN DADICH
Affiliation:
Centre for Industry and Innovation Studies, College of Business, University of Western Sydney, Australia
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

People with mental illness can be profoundly disabled and at risk of social exclusion. Transitional models of supported housing have limited effectiveness in improving community participation. Stable, individualised psychosocial housing support programmes have been found to assist in improving mental health and decreasing hospitalisations, but little is understood about whether or how these programmes facilitate social and community participation. This article argues that, if certain supports are available, supported housing models can assist people with high levels of psychiatric disability to participate meaningfully in the community. To make this case, the article uses findings of a longitudinal evaluation of a supported housing model in Australia: the Housing and Accommodation Support Initiative Stage One (HASI). HASI is a partnership between the New South Wales Government Departments of Health and Housing and non-government organisations. It is a coordinated approach that provides clients with housing and community-based clinical support, as well as support with daily living skills and community participation. An analysis of questionnaire, database, interview and clinical data is used to demonstrate how HASI contributes to increased social and community participation. The article concludes with policy implications for supported housing models that aim to facilitate meaningful community participation for people with mental illness.

Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Social Policy , Volume 39 , Issue 3 , July 2010 , pp. 375 - 391
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) (2006), Mental Health in Australia: A Snapshot, 2004–05, Canberra, ACT: Commonwealth of Australia.Google Scholar
Australian Social Inclusion Board (2008), Principles for Social Inclusion, Canberra, ACT: Australian Government, http://www.deewr.gov.au/Department/SocialInclusion/Pages/SocialInclusionPrinciples.aspx (accessed 30/03/08).Google Scholar
Bassett, H., Lloyd, C. and King, R. (2003), ‘Food cent$: educating mothers with a mental illness about nutrition’, British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 66: 8, 369–375.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Carling, P. J. (1990), ‘Major mental illness, housing, and supports: the promise of community integration’, American Psychologist, 45: 8, 969–75.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Dadich, A. and Muir, K. (2009), ‘Tricks of the trade in community mental health research: working with mental health services and clients’, Evaluation and the Health Professions, 32: 1, 38–58.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Davidson, L., O'Connell, M., Tondora, J., Styron, T. and Kangas, K. (2006), ‘The top ten concerns about recovery encountered in mental health systems transformation’, Psychiatric Services, 57: 5, 640–5.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dickerson, F. (2006), ‘Disquieting aspects of the recovery paradigm’, Psychiatric Services, 57: 5, 647.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Dumont, J. M., Ridgway, P. A., Onken, S. J., Dornan, D. H. and Ralph, R. O. (2006), ‘Mental health recovery: what helps and what hinders?’, A national research project for the development of recovery facilitating system performance indicators, Phase II technical Report, Development of the Recovery Oriented System Indicators (ROSI) Measures to Advance Mental Health System Transformation, Rockville, MD: National Technical Assistance Center for State Mental Health Planning.Google Scholar
Folsom, D. and Jeste, D. V. (2002), ‘Schizophrenia in homeless persons: a systematic review of the literature’, Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 105: 404–13.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Freeman, A., Hunt, G. E., Evenhuis, E., Smith, D. and Malone, J. (2003), High Support Accommodation for People with Psychiatric Disabilities, Sydney, NSW: Aftercare.Google Scholar
Hanrahan, P., Luchins, D. J., Savage, C. and Goldman, H. H. (2001), ‘Housing satisfaction and service use by mentally ill persons in community integrated living arrangements’, Psychiatric Services, 52: 9, 1206–9.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Huxley, P. and Thornicroft, G. (2003), ‘Social inclusion, social quality and mental illness’, British Journal of Psychiatry, 182, 289–90.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
McDermott, S., Bruce, J., Fisher, K. R. and Muir, K. (2009), ‘Evaluation of the Whole of Mental Health, Housing and Accommodation Support Initative (HASI): evaluation plan’, SPRC Report Series 17/09, SPRC (Social Policy Research Centre), University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, www.sprc.unsw.edu.au/media/File/HASI_Evaluation_Plan_Web.pdf.Google Scholar
Meehan, T., O'Rourke, P., Morrison, P. and Drake, S. (2004), ‘Evaluation of Project 300: results at 3 years post-discharge – summary’, Queensland Health and University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD.Google Scholar
Muir, K. and Fisher, K. R. (2007), ‘Stable housing, the foundation of improved mental health: findings from the Housing and Accommodation Support Initiative (HASI)’, New Paradigm, Mental Health, Housing and Homelessness, The Australian Journal on Psychosocial Rehabilitation and the Council to Homeless Persons, Psychiatric Disability Services of Victoria (VICSERV), Spring 2007, 50–53.Google Scholar
Muir, K., Dadich, A., Abelló, D., Bleasdale, M. and Fisher, K. R. (2007a), ‘Housing and Accommodation Support Initiative (HASI): evaluation report III’, SPRC Report Series 2/07, SPRC (Social Policy Research Centre), University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, www.sprc.unsw.edu.au/media/File/HASI_Report_III.pdf.Google Scholar
Muir, K., Fisher, K. R., Dadich, A., Abelló, D. and Bleasdale, M. (2007b), ‘Housing and Accommodation Support Initiative (HASI): stage one evaluation report’, NSW Department of Health, Sydney, NSW, http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/pubs/2007/pdf/hasi_evaluation.pdf.Google Scholar
Muir, K., Fisher, K. R., Dadich, A. and Abelló, D. (2008), ‘Challenging the exclusion of people with mental illness: the mental health Housing and Accommodation Support Initiative (HASI)’, Australian Journal of Social Issues, 43: 2, 271–90.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
NSW Health (2002), ‘NSW Government Action Plan: framework for housing and accommodation support for people with mental health problems and mental disorders’, NSW Government, Sydney, NSW.Google Scholar
NSW Health (2006), ‘Housing and Accommodation Support Initiative (HASI) for people with mental illness’, NSW Health, Sydney, NSW.Google Scholar
Ridgway, P. and Zipple, A. M. (1990), ‘The paradigm shift in residential services: from the linear continuum to supported housing approaches’, Psychosocial Rehabilitation Journal, 13, 11–32.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rog, D. (2004), ‘The evidence on supported housing’, Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, 27, 334–44.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sane Australia (2005), ‘Mental illness and social isolation’, research report 1, Sane Australia, Melbourne, VIC.Google Scholar
Social Exclusion Unit (2004), ‘Mental health and social exclusion’, UK Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, London.Google Scholar
Strong, S. (1998), ‘Meaningful work in supportive environments: experiences with the recovery process’, American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 52: 1, 31–8.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Söderberg, P. and Tungström, S. et al. (2005), ‘Reliability of global assessment of functioning ratings made by clinical psychiatric staff’, Psychiatric Services, 56: 4, 434–38.Google ScholarPubMed
Thornicroft, G. and Tansella, M. (2003), ‘What are the arguments for community-based mental health care?’, Health Evidence Network Report, Copenhagen: WHO (World Health Organization), http://www.euro.who.int/document/E82976.pdf (accessed 1 March 2007).Google Scholar
Tsemberis, S. (1999), ‘From streets to homes: an innovative approach to supported housing for homeless adults with psychiatric disabilities’, Journal of Community Psychology, 27: 2, 225–41.3.0.CO;2-Y>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
UK Department for Communities and Local Government (2006), ‘An evaluation of the Supporting People health pilots’, UK Department for Communities and Local Government, London, www.spkweb.org.uk (accessed 1 March 2007).Google Scholar
UK Department of Health (2003), ‘Fast-forwarding primary care mental health “gateway” workers’, UK Department of Health, London, www.dh.gov.uk/en/Policyandguidance/Healthandsocialcaretopics/Mentalhealth (accessed 1 March 2007).Google Scholar
UK Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (2005), ‘Supporting People guide to accommodation and support options for people with mental health problems’, UK Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, London, www.spkweb.org.uk (accessed 1 March 2007).Google Scholar