Community Participation Among Individuals with Severe Mental Disorders During COVID-19 Pandemic

Community participation and subjective perception of recovery and quality of life among people with serious mental illnesses: the mediating role of self-stigma

PURPOSE

Community participation is believed to be positively associated with recovery experiences and quality of life for people with serious mental illnesses (PSMIs). However, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. This study examined the mediating effect of self-stigma on the relationship between community participation and personal recovery experiences and quality of life among PSMIs.

METHODS

Structural equation modeling and mediation analyses were conducted based on a community sample of 315 PSMIs in Beijing, China, who were surveyed using the Community Participation Domains Measure, Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness, Recovery Assessment Scale, Quality of Life Scale, and a demographic questionnaire. Most were in their middle age. About half were married, and half were females. Most participants got disability certificates.

RESULTS

The results indicate that community participation is directly associated with personal recovery of PSMIs (P < 0.01) and indirectly associated with personal recovery through the mediation of self-stigma (P < 0.01). Additionally, community participation does not have a direct effect on the quality of life of PSMIs but shows an indirect effect through the mediation of self-stigma (P < 0.01). The findings suggest that self-stigma mediates the relationship between community participation and both the subjective perception of recovery and quality of life.

CONCLUSION

The findings indicate that community participation for PSMIs should be enhanced. Tailored individual intervention services should be implemented to boost positive self-awareness and reduce self-stigma through active engagement in activities. Such participation has the potential to improve subjective experiences of recovery and overall quality of life.

The Effectiveness of Day Hospitals in the Personal Recovery of Mental Disorder Patients during the COVID-19 Pandemic

BACKGROUND

In recent years, a new recovery model has gained ground in which recovery is understood as a process of change where individuals are able to improve their health and wellbeing, lead self-sufficient lives and strive to achieve their maximum potential (personal recovery). Despite the existence of data regarding the effectiveness of mental health day hospitals (MHDHs) in reducing relapses in terms of hospital admissions and emergencies, no studies have to date assessed how this change affected the new personal recovery model.

OBJECTIVES

To verify the effectiveness of MHDHs in improving personal recovery processes among people with mental disorders (MDs).

METHODS

A prospective cohort study. A group of patients receiving follow-up at MHDHs was compared with another group of patients receiving follow-up in other therapeutic units over a period of three months.

RESULTS

Patient recovery at the MHDHs, assessed using the Individual Recovery Outcomes Counter (I.ROC), was found to be significantly better than that of patients attended in other units.

CONCLUSIONS

MHDHs can contribute to the recovery of people with MDs. This is particularly important at a time when some patients may have experienced impediments to their recovery processes due to the pandemic.