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Locating specialized mental healthcare services in the neighborhood of people with severe mental illnesses (SMI) has been suggested as a way of improving treatment outcomes by increasing patient engagement and integration with the local care landscape. The current mixed methods study aimed to examine patient experience and treatment outcomes in three Flexible Assertive Community Treatment (FACT) teams that relocated to the neighborhood they served, compared to seven teams that continued to provide FACT as usual from a central office. Routine Outcome Measurement (ROM) and care use data were analyzed to compare change in treatment outcomes for patients in place-based FACT (n = 255) and FACT as usual (n = 833). Additionally, retrospective in-depth interviews were conducted with twenty patients about their experience with place-based FACT. Quantitative analysis showed mental health admission days decreased more in place-based than FACT as usual, although this difference was small. Both groups showed improved quality of life, psychosocial functioning, and symptomatic remission rates, and decreased unmet and overall needs for care. There was no change over time in met needs for care, employment, and daily activities. Qualitative analysis showed that patients experienced place-based FACT as more accessible, a better safety net, a more personal approach, better integrated with other forms of care, involving their social network, and embedded in their neighborhood and daily environment. This study showed that location and integration matter to patients, and the long term impact of place-based FACT on treatment outcomes should be explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To examine feasibility and acceptability of providing stepped collaborative care case management targeting posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and pain symptoms after major traumatic injury. Participants were major trauma survivors in Victoria, Australia, at risk of persistent pain or PTSD with high baseline symptoms. Participants were block-randomized, stratified by compensation-status, to the usual care (n = 15) or intervention (n = 17) group (46% of eligible patients). The intervention was adapted from existing stepped collaborative care interventions with input from interdisciplinary experts and people with lived experience in trauma and disability. The proactive case management intervention targeted PTSD and pain management for 6-months using motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral therapy strategies, and collaborative care. Qualitative interviews explored intervention acceptability. Intervention participants received a median of 7 h case manager contact and reported that they valued the supportive and non-judgmental listening, and timely access to effective strategies, resources, and treatments post-injury from the case manager. Participants reported few disadvantages from participation, and positive impacts on symptoms and recovery outcomes consistent with the reduction in PTSD and pain symptoms measured at 1-, 3- and 6-months. Stepped collaborative care was low-cost, feasible, and acceptable to people at risk of PTSD or pain after major trauma. After hospitalization for injury, people can experience difficulty accessing timely support to manage posttraumatic stress, pain and other concerns. Stepped case management-based interventions that provide individualized support and collaborative care have reduced posttraumatic stress symptom severity for patients admitted to American trauma centers. We showed that this model of care could be adapted to target pain and mental health in the trauma system in Victoria, Australia. The intervention was low cost, acceptable and highly valued by most participants who perceived that it helped them use strategies to better manage post-traumatic symptoms, and to access clinicians and treatments relevant to their needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The study aimed to explore the experiences of care and recovery among older patients treated for physical trauma. Design: A qualitative study with a constructivist grounded theory design. Methods: Fifteen in‐depth interviews with older adults recovering from physical trauma were conducted and analysed between 2019 and 2023, in accordance with grounded theory methodology. Results: The findings show that for older patients who suffered physical trauma, the core category was the strive to recapture autonomy. This was achieved by means of Adaptation, Reflection and Interactions, which constitute the three main categories. Recovery involves facing and navigating various new life challenges, such as increased dependency on others, managing difficult symptoms and adapting in various ways to everyday life. The recovery process was influenced by fear, hope and the attitude towards new challenges. Conclusion: Older adults being cared for after a traumatic event have a difficult path to recovery ahead of them. Dealing with increased unwanted dependency on others was a main concern for the participants. Undertreated symptoms can lead to undesired isolation, delayed recovery and further increase unwanted dependency. On the other hand, hope, which was defined as having a positive approach to life and longing for the future, was a strong accelerating factor in the recovery process. Impact: As a result of this study, we have established that older patients experience the initial period after trauma as difficult and that support in the initial phase can be helpful when returning home. As healthcare services are under increasing pressure because of an ageing population, this study contributes by addressing an understudied population and clarifying their concerns. Reporting Method: Reporting adheres to the COREQ (COnsolidated criteria for REporting Qualitative research) Checklist. Patient or Public Contribution: No patient or public involvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Eating disorders are as common in Māori, the Indigenous people of Aotearoa-New Zealand, as they are in non-Māori; however, research has focused on the experiences of non-Māori. This paper will describe explanatory factors, treatment experiences and what helps with recovery for Māori. Methods: Kaupapa Māori research methodology informed the methods and analysis. Fifteen semi-structured interviews comprised thirteen Māori participants with eating disorders (anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder) and two whānau (support network) members. A thematic analysis was undertaken by a first cycle of coding that used deductive structural coding to identify data describing participants' perceived causes of eating disorders, their experience of treatment and recovery. A second cycle of coding used inductive analysis with descriptive and pattern coding. Results: Three overarching themes were antecedents (cumulative exposure), treatment (a system of complexities) and recovery (resource empowerment). Antecedents comprised cumulative exposure to body and sporting ideals and adversity as causal factors of eating disorders. In the treatment theme, a system of complexities critiqued rural settings for generalised mental health services, allocation of Māori cultural support, the economic burden of treatment, culturally incongruent treatment (methods, values) and a weight-focused discharge criterion. Recovery (resource empowerment) found appropriate health information, self-determination and connection to Māori culture and whānau aspirations helped with recovery. Conclusion: The diversity of birdcalls reminds us of the individuality of eating disorders. Health practitioners are reminded that just as the Tūī, Kākā and Kererū possess their own unique birdcalls, so do Māori with eating disorders and their whānau have their own experiences, needs and required treatment responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rate of relapse for people in recovery for substance use disorder is as high as 85% within the first 12 months of recovery, however, research on the lived experience of relapse is limited. The present qualitative study investigated the experience of relapse with people who have Methamphetamine use disorder and the reasons why they returned to recovery. The exploratory study recruited five (n = 5) adults who identified as having Methamphetamine use disorder. All participants had sought treatment for more than 12 months, they were attending an addiction support service, and had experienced a relapse within the past 15 months. Interviews were conducted in which participants were asked an open-ended question about their most recent relapse and the negative consequences associated with their drug use. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. A return to daily drug use led to negative consequences such as relationship breakdowns, poor mental health and acting in ways that went against the participant's morals and values. This study provides an insight into the types of experiences people who relapse after seeking treatment for Methamphetamine use disorder may have and how these experiences can influence their decision to return to recovery. People who regularly attend a recovery program are still susceptible to relapse. Those who have maintained abstinence for a period of time prior to relapse may be able to assess the negative consequences of their drug use more easily. This prior experience of recovery might influence their decision to stop using again. A return to daily drug use led to negative consequences of substance misuse. The negative consequences encountered by people who relapse may include relationship breakdowns, poor mental health and acting in ways that go against the person's morals and values. The negative consequences of substance misuse can influence people's decisions to return to recovery. People who regularly attend an addiction support service remain vulnerable to relapse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Best practice guidelines for the recovery and return to work (RTW) of people with mental disorders recommend access to the services of an interdisciplinary team combining pharmacological, psychological and work rehabilitation interventions. In the Canadian context, primary healthcare services are responsible for providing these services for people with common mental disorders, such as depressive or anxiety disorders. However, not everyone has easy access to these recommended primary healthcare services, and previous studies suggest that multiple personal, practice‐related and organizational factors can influence the patient's journey. Moreover, previous studies documented that family physicians often work in silos and lack the knowledge and time needed to effectively manage by themselves patients' occupational health. Thus, the care and service trajectories of these patients are often suboptimal and can have important consequences on the person's recovery and RTW. Objective and Population Studied: Our study aimed to gain a better understanding of the patient journeys and the factors influencing their access to and experience with primary healthcare services while they were on sick leave due to a common mental disorder. Methods: A descriptive qualitative research design was used to understand and describe these factors. Conventional content analysis was used to analyze the verbatim. Results: Five themes describe the main factors that influenced the patient's journey of the 14 participants of this study: (1) the fragmented interventions provided by family physicians; (2) patients' autonomy in managing their own care; (3) the attitude and case management provided by the insurer, (4) the employer's openness and understanding and (5) the match between the person's needs and their access to psychosocial and rehabilitation services. Conclusions: Our findings highlight important gaps in the collaborative practices surrounding the management of mental health‐related sick leave, the coordination of primary healthcare services and the access to work rehabilitation services. Occupational therapists and other professionals can support family physicians in managing sick leaves, strengthen interprofessional and intersectoral collaboration and ensure that patients receive needed services in a timelier manner no matter their insurance coverage or financial needs. Patients of Public Contribution: This study aimed at looking into the perspective of people who have lived or are currently experiencing a sick leave related to a mental health disorder to highlight the factors which they feel hindered their recovery and RTW. Additionally, two patient partners were involved in this study and are now engaged in the dissemination of the research results and the pursuit of our team research programme to improve services delivered to this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This qualitative evaluation was guided by two questions: 1) How does peer recovery support (PRS) support American Indian (AI) people in recovery from substance use disorders? and 2) What makes PRS effective? Methods: We utilized a descriptive qualitative study design to explore the essence of PRS. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six AI peers to explore the perceptions and lived experiences of recovery from one urban Montana location. Data analysis involved coding all the transcripts using the priori codes developed, then identifying key themes from the coded data. Results: Themes and interview data helped us explore how PRS supports recovery and potential reasons why it is effective for AI populations. Peers indicated that the program helped them maintain their recovery, and the role of peer mentors was critical to their success. Themes of belonging, connection, and compassion were common among peers interviewed. They also felt that recovery is a spiritual process. The peers had limited recommendations for improving the program, except the need for funding sustainability. Conclusions: Understanding how people recover is the first step in addressing the current substance misuse epidemic facing our nation. This evaluation outlined the qualitative impacts of PRS, the spiritual nature of PRS, the context of PRS, and recommendations from peers involved in the program. More work is needed to explore how to sustain PRS programs and integrate PRS into existing community-based settings, like churches, social services, urban AI centers, and other locations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the literature, relational recovery after infidelity is often described as a process going through different consecutive stages towards a reconciliation. We interviewed 25 injured partners and invited them to look back and talk about what helped them to recover from the pain and the conflicts caused by the relational infidelity of their partner. From their stories—through thematic analysis—four themes emerged: 1. talking, 2.the truth, 3. trust and 4. ethical imbalance. It furthermore struck us how the participants described their recovery process as an experience of being oscillated between connection and disconnection. These findings pointed us in the direction of developing a dual process model that fits with our participants' experiences of recovering after infidelity, while emphasizing the dynamic nature of their stories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accessible Summary: What the paper adds to existing knowledge?: Personality disorder is a serious mental health condition affecting up to 52% of psychiatric outpatients and 70% of inpatients and forensic patients. People with a diagnosis of personality disorder have higher morbidity and mortality than those without.Service users and carers reported a lack of training for staff in the management of individuals with a diagnosis of personality disorder, particularly with regard to self‐harm and suicidal behaviours.Staff burnout creates barriers to compassionate person‐centred care for individuals with a diagnosis of personality disorder as staff struggled to accommodate the nature of the presentation when under significant emotional, psychological and professional strain caused by understaffing and lack of support. What are the implications for practice?: This paper adds new knowledge by informing services of ways to improve care provision from the perspectives of both carers and service users.A more holistic and less medicalised approach to the treatment of problems associated with a diagnosis of a personality disorder should be adopted, and personality disorder training introduced for all healthcare practitioners, to improve patient outcomes. Introduction: There is limited understanding of the experience of people with complex mental health (CMH) needs, including those with a diagnosis of personality disorder (PD) and carers of those individuals. Little is known about carers of those in inpatient forensic settings, yet it has been identified that they may have additional needs when compared to general carers. Research highlights that community carer support services were perceived as inadequate and out‐of‐area placements were described as putting an added strain on ability to support loved ones. Understanding PD within a population of people with CMH needs and how a diagnosis described as PD impacts on care and treatment experience is vital to providing high‐quality care. Aim: To evaluate the care experience of service users and carers with lived experience of a diagnosis of PD and out‐of‐area placements. Method: Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with six service users and four carers to explore the experiences and perspectives of people with a diagnosis of PD. Interviews were audio recorded and thematically analysed. Results: Four interrelated themes were developed; Influence of a diagnosis of PD on Staff, Early and Appropriate Intervention, Recognition of the Individual and Training and Knowledge of people with a diagnosis of PD. Discussion: Anti‐stigma interventions for staff, research on care provision and structural changes to services including more evidence‐based therapy for individuals with a diagnosis of PD may help reduce disparate treatment and improve prognosis for recovery. Implications for Practice: This paper informs services of ways to improve care provision from the perspective of carers and service users. A more holistic and less medicalised approach to the treatment of problems associated with diagnoses of PD should be adopted, and PD training for all healthcare practitioners to improve patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to investigate and understand various aspects related to participants' experiences in peer support activities, with a particular focus on their personal growth and the influence of these activities on their lives. In this qualitative study, peer support workers with mental illness were the main subjects, and they were recruited from G Metropolitan City, South Korea. The study used purposive sampling, guided by recommendations from peer support worker support organizations. A total of five participants were selected using purposive sampling to ensure maximum variability in the sample. Data collection involved semi-structured individual interviews, and data analysis was conducted using the interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) method. Following the IPA procedure for data analysis, the study revealed six themes that encapsulated the recovery experiences of peer support workers with mental illness: (1) Facing confusion and challenges, (2) Rising and refining myself, (3) Navigating the paths of relationships, (4) Gazing at the desired horizons, (5) Awakening the inner hero, and (6) Standing as a person who cherishes life. This research underscores the positive impact of peer support activities on individuals who have faced mental health challenges. It emphasizes the significance of self-discovery, the development of supportive relationships, and the aspiration for a brighter future. These findings contribute to the expanding body of knowledge regarding the benefits of peer support in the context of mental health recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to explore the roles of psychologists in seclusion in adult mental health services in Ireland, their perspectives on seclusion and its use in recovery-oriented practice and related professional practice issues. Design/methodology/approach: A qualitative hermeneutic phenomenological study was conducted from a social constructivist perspective. Semi-structured interviews with 17 psychologists were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Findings: Twenty-four themes were identified, which were clustered into four overarching themes. Participants viewed themselves and psychology in Ireland more broadly as peripheral to seclusion. They believed that seclusion possessed no inherent therapeutic value but viewed it as an uncomfortable and multi-faceted reality. Participants regarded seclusion and recovery as largely inconsistent and difficult to reconcile, and they perceived systemic factors, which had a pervasive negative impact on seclusion and recovery in practice. Practical implications: The findings highlight the perceived complexity of seclusion and its interface with recovery, and the need to conscientiously balance conflicting priorities that cannot be easily reconciled to ensure ethical practice. The findings suggest psychologists are well-suited to participate in local and national discussions on using seclusion in recovery-oriented practice. Originality/value: This study offers a unique insight into psychologists' perceptions of seclusion and considers the implications of these views. Participants' nuanced views suggest that psychologists can make valuable contributions to local and national discussions on these topics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: We aimed to illuminate the lived experiences and the path of recovery for adults sustaining a hip fracture before the age of 60. Methods: Participants were purposively sampled from a prospective multicenter cohort study in Sweden and Denmark, and narrative interviews were conducted with 19 individuals 0.7-3.5 years after the fracture. We used a phenomenological hermeneutic method to describe the participants' expressed essential meaning. Results: The experience of sustaining a hip fracture was expressed as a painful and protracted process of regaining self-confidence, function, and independence. It also implied a sense of growing old from one day to the next. Participants were afraid of new falls and fractures, resulting in an increased wariness. When expressing fears and persisting symptoms, participants described being neglected and marginalized by the healthcare system, which was perceived as non-receptive and routinely driven by a notion that hip fractures affect only the elderly. Rehabilitation targeted towards needs different from those of elderly individuals was requested. Conclusion: The lived experience of sustaining a hip fracture in individuals under 60 includes substantial challenges in everyday life, even up to 3.5 years after the injury. Rehabilitation pathways tailored to the needs of younger patients are requested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is currently no consensus regarding what outcome domains to measure following lower limb prosthetic rehabilitation. Prosthetic users have a unique insight into important outcome domains, little is currently known about their critical viewpoint. A total of 37 participants who underwent lower limb amputation in the last five years were recruited from UK limb fitting centres and social media. Data were collected using focus groups and interviews and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Five themes were identified. 1) The ability to participate in important activities, 2) how participants were able to undertake these activities, i.e., independently, with ease, safely and with minimal equipment. 3) A comfortable, easy-to-use prosthesis, 4) the importance of managing pain and finally, 5) adjusting and accepting their new normal. These five themes, or outcome domains, did not exist in isolation, but appeared to interact with each other, contributing to, or inhibiting the participant's holistic sense of recovery. Understanding important outcome domains that define what recovery means to people following amputation can help to inform domain consensus, as well as direct the focus of rehabilitation. Domain consensus would guide the selection of measurement tools that evaluate prosthetic interventions in a meaningful way. There is currently no consensus around which outcome domains should be measured following prosthetic rehabilitation. Outcome domains of importance from a patient's perspective focus on participation in important activities, prosthesis comfort, pain management, and acceptance of their new normal. Identifying these domains can help direct the focus of rehabilitation as well as inform outcome measurement practice. The interrelated nature of these domains suggests the need for a physical and psychosocial multi-domain approach to outcome measurement in prosthetic rehabilitation, with patient priorities at its centre. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article attempts to provide an insight into the experiences of drug addicts at a rehabilitation center, run by the provincial Social Welfare Department in Lahore, Pakistan, through a qualitative approach. The menace of drugs is increasing worldwide, including Pakistan. Effective treatment and rehabilitative services can lower the prevalence rate of drug addiction. The aim of this research was to understand/explore the experiences of research participants about the phenomenon of drug addiction and rehabilitation services provided in the field of social welfare. This research extends the current knowledge of individuals' drug addiction by revealing the complexities and intricacies of this behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proximal humerus fractures are common in older adults and optimizing their outcomes following this injury can be challenging. This study explored recovery from the perspective of individuals who experience proximal humerus fracture. We conducted in-depth semi-structured interviews (n = 14) with participants (aged 45 and over) recruited from a hand clinic in London, Ontario using a purposive sampling technique. The exploratory interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using interpretive description approach. Four themes emerged from the narratives of individuals: challenges of day-to-day activities, coping as you go, recapturing valued life roles, and support matters. Recovery after PHF seems relative to contexts and manifests within numerous scenarios. Based on individuals' narratives, the context produces a mosaic that contributes to unique recovery perception and experience. Awareness of the context emphasizes the complexity inherent in recovery and may guide healthcare professionals' efforts toward care for their patients. Individuals with proximal humerus fracture experience recovery as a personal and dynamic process occurring in their diverse contexts. Healthcare professionals need to recognize the significant impact of context on individuals' physical, emotional, and social life following proximal humerus fracture (PHF). A multidisciplinary treatment plan might be desirable where people with PHF and health care professionals collaborate as a whole. Building a multidisciplinary health team including healthcare professionals, peer support, and case management may remove some barriers and facilitate the transition to recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Self‐harm rates and clinical presentations differ by ethnicity. South Asian women are at risk of self‐harm. Previous research suggested investigating individuals' experiences with self‐harm with qualitative studies in developing self‐harm prevention strategies. This research aims to explore self‐harm experiences among South Asians in the United Kingdom. Design: Qualitative study. Methods: Participants were recruited via third‐sector organizations and online platforms. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with 11 South Asian individuals with a history of self‐harm living in the United Kingdom. The data were analysed based on a reflective thematic analysis approach. Results: Results revealed four main themes: (1) reasons for self‐harm; (2) recovery journey; (3) culture and mental health; and (4) the transition to suicidal thoughts and behaviours. Reasons for self‐harm included negative life circumstances, social life difficulties, challenges faced during COVID‐19 and mental health problems. Participants described their recovery journey by acknowledging the role of professional help, self‐care, psychoeducation and personal growth, improving social relationships, and faith and spirituality. Cultural factors included generational differences and stigma. Culturally adapted psychological interventions were perceived as promising. The reported transition from self‐harm to suicidal behaviours was linked to experiencing major stressful life events and the use of severe methods of self‐harm. Conclusions: The findings suggest that socio‐cultural factors impact mental health and recovery processes among South Asians. Mental health services should consider improving culturally sensitive clinical practices in responding to self‐harm among South Asian communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A co-design project, consisting of individual and collective design activities, was organized with clients of a mental health service, in order to explore its potential to support people with psychosis. The group met for approximately two hours, weekly, for six months, participating in design activities and collectively deciding on the project purpose and outcome – a boardgame. The experience of one group participant (Anthony) is explored, selected as the first case study within an Interpretative Phenomenological Analytical (IPA) framework. Following IPA's ideographic focus, Anthony's case was purposefully selected, as it portrayed a detailed picture, informing theoretical reflection on designing as therapeutic. The paper includes Anthony's first-hand account, combined with an analysis of data from three semi-structured interviews, photographic evidence and a reflective diary kept by the lead researcher. Results suggest that, for Anthony, design activity: a) helps developing a sense of agency b) is experienced as grounding in reality c) contributes to the development of inter-personal relationships, and d) has a different sense of rhythm than artistic practice. These results are contextualized within literature on the lived experience of psychosis and suggest that designing can be beneficial for people with psychosis, providing the backdrop for further research and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Many critically ill patients report a change in their health‐related quality of life after intensive care unit (ICU) discharge. Patients who experience delirium during their ICU stay are perceived as a fragile group of ICU survivors, and the 'quality of life' phenomenon needs to be studied among these patients. Aim: To explore everyday life experiences of critically ill patients with delirium during the ICU stay, from ICU discharge until 1‐year follow‐up, focusing on their health‐related quality of life and cognitive function. Study Design: We used a descriptive qualitative research design and interviewed patients 1 year after ICU admission. The participants were recruited from a pre‐planned one‐year follow‐up study of 'Agents Intervening against Delirium for patients in the Intensive Care Unit trial'. Data were analysed using Framework Analysis Method and content analysis. Results: Nine women and eight men participated and reported a struggle when returning to everyday life or adapting to a new normality from hospital discharge to 1 year later. None of the participants had been aware of the challenges they would face after hospital discharge. They described a need for more information about these challenges to themselves and about primary care to better understand their situation and the struggles they experience during recovery. One overall theme emerged from the analysis 'From enduring to adapting' with three subthemes: 'Struggling to regain a functional life', 'Struggling to regain normal cognition' and 'Distressing manifestations from the ICU'. Conclusions: To improve recovery and the quality of rehabilitation for critically ill patients suffering from delirium, it is essential to understand the phenomenon of ICU survivorship and what this fragile group of patients is going through. It is necessary to bridge the gap between secondary and primary care so patients can receive optimal training and support when needed. Relevance to Clinical Practice: Bridging the gap between primary and secondary healthcare services is urgently needed to improve rehabilitation for ICU survivors after critical illness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mental health recovery has shifted from clinical conceptualizations to more personal ones. However, much of the lived experience literature has focused on people living with mental health conditions, and less attention has been placed on various mental health professionals, especially in Asian countries, where the personal recovery literature base is in its nascent stage. We sought to contribute to a growing body of work by exploring recovery from the lens of different mental health professionals in Singapore. Mental health professionals in Singapore were invited to participate in an online interview through social media. The recordings were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using a constructive grounded theory approach. Nineteen participants were interviewed. A single core category, "living in society once more", and three categories, "An ongoing process", "Regaining ability to function in society", and "A normality report card" were identified from our data. Recovery within the Singapore mental health professional perspective focuses on helping individuals return to society and function productively while considering existing societal norms such as the highly competitive and pragmatic culture in Singapore. Future research can explore in greater depth the impact of these factors on the recovery process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The resilience of nursing students has a positive impact on their wellbeing and completion of courses, especially during pandemics like Covid-19. However, research on resilience factors among nursing students is limited to India. Aim: This qualitative study aimed to explore senior nursing students' perceptions of resilience factors in recovery from Covid-19 infection. Methods: The virtual focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted among final year undergraduate nursing students at a tertiary care center. We used an interview guide with semi-structured questions to collect the data. Results: A narrative content analysis revealed four dominant themes: experiences and concerns while caring for patients with Covid-19 infection (subtheme: lack of adequate knowledge and skills, support by clinical preceptors, inadequate supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) kits, fear of acquiring and spreading of Covid-19 infection to friends and other patients), reactions to Covid-19 infection (subtheme: anxiety, fear of rejection, academic worries, and uncertainty of illness), resilience (subtheme: support by seniors, teachers, friends, family support, positive self-concept, relaxation techniques, and organization support), and willingness to serve patients with Covid-19 infection (subtheme: professional responsibility, personal experiences, role models, and supportive working environment). Conclusions: The findings suggest that it is crucial to prepare nursing students for adversity through resilience training. Further, studies that develop and evaluate effective strategies to promote resilience among nursing students are urgently needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: In 2019, the world was hit by a life threatening severe acute respiratory syndrome causing a global pandemic; Coronavirus disease (COVID-19). In the UK, a nationwide "lockdown" of public isolation and reduced social contact followed. The experience of COVID-19 and the lockdown for forensic secure mental health patients is yet to be understood. This study aims to explore this phenomenon from the patients' perspective. Design/methodology/approach: A qualitative approach was taken. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with six patients from a low secure unit in the UK, between November 2020 and March 2021. Findings: Interpretive phenomenological analysis generated three superordinate themes from the data, providing insight into patients' experience: "treading water"; how they managed: "learning to swim"; and what was helpful during this time: "in the same boat". Practical implications: Further consideration should be given to creating a sense of safety in wards, along with ways to continue to address the power imbalance. Interestingly, social connection may be cultivated from within the hospital setting and would benefit from further research. Originality/value: To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first study to explore secure patients' experience of COVID-19 from the patients' perspective, within a population often neglected within recovery research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to qualitatively explore the lived experiences of meaningful relationships among persons in 12-step recovery. The distinction of recovery is important as our study focused less on relational patterns during active substance use and more on their perception within their recovery. This phenomenological study followed Van Manen's six step approach of qualitative research. Data were collected from 7 participants through semi-structured one-on-one participant interviews. Participants were asked open-ended questions regarding their SUD recovery (e.g., "What is your experience of your capacity to be in meaningful relationships?"). Resulting from the analysis, four themes were extracted from the overarching theme of the Capacity for Meaningful Relationships in Recovery. The four emergent themes included Building the Foundation in Recovery, Sharing a Common Ground of Support, Giving Back – Helping Others, and Bridging Recovery to Family – The Biggest Accomplishment. Limitations and future research are discussed as well as the potential impact and application of these findings as they relate to recovery research and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Relatively few studies have explicitly examined whether and how shelter-type, temporary or emergency accommodation shapes homeless clients' personal (mental health) recovery. A transatlantic phenomenological qualitative study was conducted to examine the influence of those services on personal recovery. Eighteen chronically homeless adults with a history of serious mental illness were recruited from several temporary accommodation services in New York City (NYC), U.S., and Glasgow, Scotland. Participants completed repeat in-depth interviews and a novel one-week multimedia mobile phone diary. The interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) produced three overarching group experiential themes: ' everything was just starting to fall into place'; 'caught in a trap' ; and ' trials and tribulations '. Collectively, the findings underscore the duality of influence of temporary accommodation on recovery. Those ambiguous spaces confronted participants with existential uncertainty, volatility and chronic boredom, but also proffered opportunities for envisioning and enacting recovery. Embarking on recovery while residing in temporary accommodation is possible, even for those enduring chronic life adversity. However, it is contingent upon enabling socio-material, affective and relational resources. Implications are discussed for theorising recovery as a contextually embedded, relational phenomenon, and for providing recovery-oriented support across the housing continuum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accessible Summary: What is known on the subject?: The delivery of mental health recovery orientated acre is a requirement of mental health professionals and an acknowledged desired outcome for individuals presenting with mental health issues.Hope has been recognized as one of 5 key processes of mental health recovery, and critically as the key catalyst of recovery.Mental health nurses are required to be competent in cultivating service user hope. What the paper adds to existing knowledge?: Novel exploration of how people described and made sense of the lived experience of hope in mental health recovery.Participants described hope as intrinsic to life in the context of its ability to cultivate desire and provide energy for life and living.Participants with experience of attempts to end life had a very clear concept of hope as missing at these times.Participants described the concept of hope as present but hidden to explain their survival through tortuous circumstances.The themes generated contribute to a greater understanding of the dynamic role and process of hope in mental health recovery. What are the implications for mental health nursing practice?: Mental health practitioners need to be competent in understanding and cultivating hope as part of a person‐centred approach, embedded in a therapeutic relationship.All stakeholders including service users, mental health nurses and educators need a more accessible reified dialogue of "hope" that harnesses its therapeutic potential. Introduction: Mental health services have embraced the philosophy and practice of recovery. Research has confirmed hope as a micro‐process of recovery. The lived experience of hope has received scant attention. This is required to improve understanding and optimize its therapeutic potential. Aim: To explore how individuals describe and make sense of their experience of hope in mental health recovery. Method: A qualitative interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) approach was used. The sample was accessed via email networks. Data were generated through semi‐structured interviews and analysed using an IPA framework. Results: Three superordinate themes emerged: "Without it we would wither up and die"—Hope as intrinsic to life; "I will be ok"—Having a sense of possibility and "Making it happen"—Moving forward. Individuals referenced hope by its absence when attempts were made to end life, and as present but hidden in tortuous circumstances. Discussion: Individuals were more familiar with the concept of hopelessness, had a ready‐to‐hand vocabulary of "having no hope" and used this by default to inform what hope meant. Implications for Practice: It is important that all stakeholders appreciate the context specific interpretation of hope and cultivate dialogue and understanding to harness its therapeutic potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this qualitative study was to examine the process of surviving child abuse in people with a mental illness in order to develop an explanatory theory. The study utilized the grounded theory approach. Seventeen community-dwelling adults with a mental illness who had experienced child abuse were interviewed. For the in-depth interview, the lifeline interview method was used. Data were collected from July 14, 2019, to February 28, 2020. The constant comparative method was used for analysis, to identify similarities and differences between different statements, and similar phenomena or theories were compared and analyzed continuously. The central phenomena were "losing oneself" and "in a precarious state." Participants used "expressing," "standing on one's own feet," and "avoiding" as coping strategies. Observed outcomes were "making life work for them" and "living with others." The core category was "losing myself, embracing myself as someone in a precarious state, and being reborn as the master of my life." Positive religious coping, having a supportive network, and emotional or physical distance from difficult situations played a major role in surviving participants' experiences of child abuse and being victimized because of their mental illness. Our findings provide a theoretical basis for understanding people with mental illness who have survived child abuse, and suggest that opportunities for sharing their stories, facilitating self-reliance, and avoiding the causes of their difficulties all play a role in their healing process. Based on this study, it is expected that clinical experts and policy developers will be able to formulate evidence-based interventions and policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This qualitative study aims to explore the factors that motivate people in recovery from substance use disorder in Kuantan to remain in a self-help group. A total of five recovering self-help group members participated in this study. The findings indicated that people in recovery decided to continue their participation in a self-help group in order to obtain support that helps them sustain their recovery. Furthermore, respondents explained that the self-help group empowers them to give back to society. The respondents in this study also emphasized that the presence of a positive group leader is vital in maintaining their motivation to continue their participation in the self-help group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self-efficacy plays a role in the process of making lifestyle changes. After bariatric surgery, patients must adapt to several lifelong lifestyle changes. The aim of this study was to explore patients' experiences of recovery after bariatric surgery in those reporting low preoperative self-efficacy. This qualitative inductive interview study included 18 participants. Individual interviews were conducted approximately one year after the surgery. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. The analysis identified one theme, and five subthemes describing recovery after bariatric surgery. Participants described being at a crossroads before surgery and having to make a change. After surgery, they had to learn to handle their new situation, which included getting to know their new body, handling thoughts about themselves, and managing social relations. To enhance their situation, support and information were essential. Social relations, support, successes, and challenges influenced their self-efficacy, and thoughts about adopting lifestyle changes, maintaining motivation, and handling setbacks. Recovery one year after bariatric surgery is an ongoing process that involves challenges encountered in lifestyle changes and physical and psychological transformations. Self-efficacy is not static and is influenced during the recovery process. Support and information are essential to enhance patient recovery after bariatric surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supported living has been shown to improve functioning and social inclusion in people with severe and persistent mental health problems, reduce hospitalisation and provide secure accommodation in a population where housing needs are often unmet. Conversely, living in supported accommodation has been depicted by some as depersonalising, marginalising and an ordeal to survive. Discussions regarding housing and support often lack a thorough consideration of individual experiences, with a reliance on quantitative surveys. The question remains how to assure that supported accommodations actually are supportive of the residents' ongoing recovery process. The present study sought to shed light on the experiences of residents in an enhanced supported living service in the United Kingdom. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with nine residents of the service between July 2020 and February 2021. Transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis and indicated three superordinate themes of experiences considered valuable to residents: (1) support from care staff which was readily available; (2), a sense of community and daily activity offered by the residence and on‐site activities; and (3) the experience of supported living as a stepping‐stone in an ongoing recovery process. Findings indicate the power of comprehensive care with supportive staff, peer‐relations, autonomy and fostering hope in empowering individuals in their ongoing recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the current review is to synthesize the evidence of patients' perspectives of recovery after hip fracture across the care continuum. A systematic search was conducted, focusing on qualitative data from hip fracture patients. Screening, quality appraisal, and a subset of articles for extraction were completed in duplicate. Themes were generated using a thematic synthesis of data from original studies. Fourteen high-quality qualitative studies were included. Four review themes were identified: recovery as participation, feelings of vulnerability, driving recovery, and reliance on support. Patients considered recovery as a return to pre-fracture activities or "normal" enabling independence. Feelings of vulnerability were observed irrespective of the time since hip fracture and only diminished when recovery of function and activities enabled participation in valued activities, e.g., outdoor mobility. Participants expressed a desire to engage in recovery with realistic expectations and the benefits of meaningful feedback reported. While reliance on healthcare professionals decreased towards a later stage of recovery, reliance on social support persisted until recovery was perceived to have been achieved. Patient perspectives highlighted hip fracture as a major life event requiring health professional and social support to overcome feelings of vulnerability and enable active engagement in recovery. Rehabilitation professionals should ensure expectations and goals are set early in the recovery process. Rehabilitation professionals should ensure goals set with patients are tailored to the individual's pre-fracture activities or "normal" promoting independence. Rehabilitation professionals should monitor goals ensuring they are providing support, motivation, and managing expectations across the care continuum. Rehabilitation professionals should address patients' feelings of vulnerability, particularly in the absence of social support, and ensure appropriate ongoing input to maximize recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mental health 'recovery narratives' are increasingly used within teaching, learning and practice environments. The mainstreaming of their use has been critiqued by scholars and activists as a co-option of lived experience for organisational purposes. But how people report their experiences of telling their stories has not been investigated at scale. We present accounts from 71 people with lived experience of multiple inequalities of telling their stories in formal and informal settings. A reflexive thematic analysis was conducted within a critical constructivist approach. Our overarching finding was that questions of power were central to all accounts. Four themes were identified: (1) Challenging the status quo; (2) Risky consequences; (3) Producing 'acceptable' stories; (4) Untellable stories. We discuss how the concept of narrative power foregrounds inequalities in settings within which recovery stories are invited and co-constructed, and conclude that power imbalances complicate the seemingly benign act of telling stories of lived experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: People living with dementia face a constant struggle in re‐establishing their means of living a meaningful life. Journal writing exhibits the potential to help them regain a sense of control over their lives. This study explores the experience, meaning, and value of journal writing for people living with dementia who autonomously engage in the activity. Methods: We conducted individual, semi‐structured interviews with eight people living with dementia who each kept a personal, paper‐based daily journal. The interviews were thematically analyzed. Results: We identified four main themes. Theme 1. Recognition of the harsh reality of life under dementia. Theme 2. Observation of and compensation for weaknesses. Theme 3. Reacknowledgement and reaffirmation of one's identity, and Theme 4. Resignation and regret over comparisons to one's 'former' self. Themes 2 and 3 suggest that journal writing enabled self‐reflection on daily activity functions and sense of self. However, Theme 4 represents the downside where an individual more acutely realises their deteriorating condition and regrets over their perceived loss of self. Conclusion: While acknowledging the possible adverse effect of amplifying pessimistic perceptions toward life, journal writing is a powerful 'self‐help' strategy for people living with dementia and provides an avenue to recover and thrive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The lack of social and material perspectives in descriptions of recovery processes is almost common in recovery research. Aim: Consequently, we investigated recovery stories and how people with mental health and/or addiction challenges included social and material aspects in these stories. Method: We conducted focus group and individual interviews. We investigated how the participants narrated their stories and how they assembled places and people in their recovery stories. Results: We found that narratives of recovery became assemblages where humans and their environments co-exist and are interdependent. Conclusion: As such, narratives about recovery are about everyday assemblages of well-being into which stories of insecurity are interwoven, without a start or stop point. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photovoice, a community-based participatory research strategy, allows participants to take up an active role in data collection by discussing their views and life (conditions) based on the photographs they have taken. In this methodological article, we present a case study in which photovoice was used to unravel the meaning of recovery capital. Recovery capital is an overarching concept to understand the personal, social and community resources helping people to recover. Seven participants in recovery from drug use and desistance from offending took photographs of their lived experiences related to recovery capital. During face-to-face interviews, these photographs were discussed, focusing on recovery capital components. The case study led to in-depth insights into the photographs' meanings and stories from the point of view of the participants. This contribution investigates the role of photovoice in expanding our understanding of recovery capital. By means of a case study we highlight the several steps taken by the researcher and the advantages and shortcomings of this method. It appears that photovoice offers great value for eliciting insights in the lived experiences of participants and for participants to grow empowerment and agency. This article hopes to inspire researchers to consider photovoice for their (future) research projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A life course approach recognizes the role of turning points in adding twists and turns in individuals' addiction recovery processes. The notion of certain key life events that trigger turning point experiences offers a valuable theoretical construct for understanding processes of change. The current study aimed to identify turning points and assess the role of contextual dynamics in generating long-term changes, based on lived experiences of persons in drug addiction recovery. A qualitative research design was applied using a Lifeline Interview Method (LIM), allowing a retrospective lens to elicit recovery narratives. Purposive sampling was utilized to compose a heterogeneous group of thirty persons in self-defined drug addiction recovery in Flanders (Belgium). An interpretative phenomenological approach was adopted during a thematic analysis, grounding the research claims in respondents' lived experiences. Key moments of change that were reported by participants are: (1) adverse drug-induced experiences; (2) becoming a parent; (3) 'hitting rock bottom'; (4) (dis)engagement of social networks and environments; and (5) addiction treatment. The findings illustrate the role of contextual dynamics that can facilitate (or hamper) experiencing these life events as turning points toward change. This study contradicts the notion of a single event or turning point causing abrupt changes in individuals' addiction trajectories. Contextual dynamics and meaning-making processes simultaneously influence whether specific life events can facilitate change. Treatment providers, researchers, and policymakers should take into account the process-based, situational, and relational nature of recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This current study explored the lived experiences of patients with long-term cognitive sequelae after recovering from COVID-19. A qualitative design with in-depth interviews and an analysis inspired by Ricoeur's interpretation theory was utilised. Contracting COVID-19 and suffering long-term sequelae presented as a life-altering event with significant consequences for one's social, psychological and vocational being in the world in the months following the infection. Patients living with long-term cognitive sequelae after COVID-19 were in an unknown life situation characterised by feelings of anxiety, uncertainty and concerns about the future, significantly disrupting their life trajectory and forcing them to change their ways of life. While awaiting studies on treatment, symptom management and recovery after persistent sequelae of COVID-19, clinicians and researchers may find inspiration in experiences of other health conditions with similar phenomenology, such as ME/chronic fatigue syndrome and chronic headaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recovery from homelessness for women is often a long, complex and highly individualised journey. This study investigated women's experiences of exiting homelessness and examined the factors that influenced recovery. The qualitative interpretive study involved auto‐driven photo elicitation and in‐depth interviews with 11 women who had previously been homeless. It took place in Australia between August 2018 and August 2019. Women took photographs that represented their experiences of exiting homelessness to guide discussion during interviews. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Findings indicate that recovery from homelessness involves more than becoming housed. Recovery from homelessness is the overarching theme being presented, described using five subthemes: Finding the right house, Making a house a home, Connection, Building confidence and Helping others. Housing was only the starting point for recovery from homelessness for women. The women drew on their own self determination to create factors necessary for recovery from the experience of homelessness. We conclude that ongoing support is necessary to empower and assist women recovering from the traumatic experiences of homelessness. Trauma‐informed care offers service providers a framework for supporting women who have lived through homelessness. Services can draw on this framework to provide support beyond the point of securing a house and assist women to create a home environment, build confidence in themselves and form connections to their community as they transition out of homelessness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to explore the lived experiences of participants' key attributes of sustaining long-term recovery as an emergent adult in college. Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) was used to identify recurrent themes by analyzing participants' experiences. Eight participants were recruited from a collegiate recovery program at a university in the southwest United States. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, and data were transcribed verbatim. Data analysis followed IPA guidelines and procedures. Four superordinate themes emerged through the analysis process: Positive Recovery Identity Shift, Achievements and Accomplishments, Transformation of Agency, and Spirituality and Choice. Findings, which were integrated into the discussion, focus on relevant addiction recovery research implications. Limitations, future research implications, and clinical applications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Engagement in everyday activities has been identified as an important element in personal recovery from the experience of mental illness and a key priority for service-users. This study explored the role of everyday activities in recovery. This study used a photovoice participatory research. Twenty-one participants experiencing mental illness were recruited from a community-managed mental health service in Melbourne, Australia. Data collection included individual interviews and photovoice courses. The courses included group discussions and required participants to take photographs about their everyday activities that support recovery. A lived experience co-facilitator contributed to development and delivery of the course. The interviews and group discussions were transcribed verbatim and analysed using constant comparative methods. Recovery as a "journey of living well" was identified as the central theme that encompasses three interlinked categories: (1) living a life on hold; (2) choosing to recover; and (3) learning and navigating strategies. The findings suggest that recovery involves a range of experiences embedded in people's everyday lives. Recovery-oriented practice should provide opportunities for engagement in meaningful activities, to help consumers identify their potential and strategies to live well, and to adopt co-production at all levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the lived experiences of 12 students in recovery from Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) who were members of Collegiate Recovery Programs (CRPs) at three academically-recognized universities that are also designated to be "party schools." Using a three-interview series for in-depth phenomenological interviewing, this study investigated how students in recovery in CRPs make sense of their pasts, their present-day lives, and their futures. By analyzing students' use of narrative, their use of social and cultural discourses, and the shifting subject positions they adopted, co-opted, and disputed in their ongoing identity construction as individuals in recovery, three main discursive themes were identified: First, recovery discourses were primarily rooted in the discourses of Alcoholics Anonymous. A second set of discourses drove students to acquire the qualifications necessary to gain a professional career and to avoid falling out of their social class. In the third set of discourses, students in CRPs defined and claimed social power for themselves, and their CRPs helped them establish various means to be "cool" in college. Reshuffling discourses to (re)position themselves, students in CRPs resisted college discourses that invited them to return to active use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Spirituality is part of recovery for many people with lived experience of mental health issues, including those who become peer specialists and utilize their own recovery experiences to facilitate the recovery of others. This research explores how peer specialists view spirituality in their work with their peers and the factors that impact conversations in this area. Method: Eleven peer specialists participated in individual qualitative interviews. Inquiries were made about their own experiences of spirituality and how these were used to support others. Additional questions probed factors that facilitated or served as barriers to their ability to engage in such conversations. Data were subjected to thematic analysis. Results: Peer specialists experienced well-being, hope, and self-acceptance through spirituality. Use of spirituality in peer support was influenced by their personal spiritual journey, specifically because they understood its value to recovery. Barriers to use included fear of rejection and lack of formal support. The number one facilitator was their personal experience, but they suggested the need for training and guidelines as important future facilitators. Conclusions and Implications for Practice: Results indicate that at least some peer specialists are thinking about the role of spirituality in their work but express some struggles with such activities. There appears a need for guidelines on how to use spirituality in peer support, better definitions of the competencies peer specialists need, and more attention to training and supervision in this area—possibly to maximize the benefit of the lived experience that many peer specialists bring to their work. Impact and Implications: This qualitative study investigated mental health peer specialists' experiences of using spirituality in their work, including facilitators and barriers to having spiritually oriented conversations with peers. Findings indicate that peer specialists find value in using spirituality in their work but need additional support, especially through training and encouragement from organizational leadership, to increase confidence and skills in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

People with mental ill health attend general emergency care more often than others for physical and psychiatric care needs. Staff in general emergency care report they lack knowledge and strategies to meet with and care for people with mental ill health. This study aimed to describe how people with mental ill health experience encounters with staff in general emergency care. We conducted individual semi‐structured interviews with 11 people with mental ill health about their experiences in general emergency care and subjected the interview data to qualitative content analysis. Our results show the importance to people with mental ill health of being acknowledged as capable persons, and how this relates to their experiences of being recognized, ignored, or dismissed by staff in general emergency care. Even small, ordinary aspects of staff/patient interactions can have major impacts on a person's recovery and well‐being. The study is reported according to the consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ) guidelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reentry process from prison to the community is rife with obstacles. Substance use problems, in particular, can present significant barriers to successful reentry. However, little research has examined the various roles that substance use plays during reentry from the perspective of those reentering the community. The current study explores reentry experiences of people who have been recently released from prison with a specific focus on their experiences with substance use during the reentry process. Using thematic analysis, the present study explored substance use experiences from 26 semi-structured interviews. Seven main themes emerged: recovery and sobriety, substance use programs, relapse, substance use exposure, triggers and other challenges, impact of incarceration on substance use, and reflections about substance use. Within each of these broad themes, additional subthemes emerged. Findings suggest complex histories of substance use spanning ecological contexts, including family, neighborhood, and corrections facilities as well as provide support for the pervasive and persistent nature of substance use among previously incarcerated individuals. Implications for practice and policy are discussed as well as potential future directions for research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In India, mental illness is generally perceived as a lifetime adversity with high vulnerability to problems such as social marginalization, health hazards, and economic deprivation. But anecdotal evidence has shown that many individuals struggling with mental illness have led outstanding lives of courage, dignity and have contributed to society in different ways. Yet scientific research has not focused adequately on such cases and instead has largely studied negative outcomes associated with mental illness. The objective of the present study was to explore positive outcomes through the subjective experiences of individuals diagnosed with mental illness. Interviews of participants (n = 48) were analyzed using thematic analysis. The imperative finding was that despite mental illness and cumulative risks, participants were able to bounce back to a functional level and in a few instances even excelled in specific areas they engaged in. The major implication of such strength-based studies is that it highlights positive outcomes that can assist in building a life of wellness thereby challenging the deficit-based approach that is more popularly followed in studying mental illness. These findings establish that the possibility of living well even after being diagnosed with a mental illness is not a fictional likelihood, rather an achievable reality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

College settings can be challenging environments for students recovering from substance use disorder. Collegiate Recovery Programs (CRP) have emerged on college campuses across the United States to help mitigate the risks recovering students face and to promote academic and recovery success. The current article describes the first collegiate recovery home to follow an Oxford House [OH] model, established at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In the present preliminary study, qualitative data were utilized to explore the strengths and challenges of this recovery model and students' experiences in the OH collegiate recovery home. Key stakeholders in the creation of this collegiate recovery home (n =2), as well as current and former student participants (n = 6), were interviewed. The key stakeholders' interviews revealed insights on the home's creation, modifications made from the traditional OH model, and the challenges faced in implementing a collegiate recovery home. Rapid qualitative analysis of the interviews of residents revealed salient themes that describe students' experiences within the collegiate recovery home: (1) resident social support, (2) connection to the student body, (3) anonymous status of the house, (4) lifestyle, (5) optimism, (6) self-independence, (7) Collegiate OH is essential for sobriety, and (8) UNC involvement and oversight. The implications of these findings for collegiate recovery homes are discussed, as well as suggestions for future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Open Dialogue (OD) is a needs-based, service-user initiated approach to mental health service delivery that emphasises dialogue, and shared understanding between service users, and their support network. The aim of this study was to explore the lived experience of being part of an OD-informed mental health service in Ireland. Data were collected through semi-structured group interviews and analysed using thematic analysis. Three primary themes were identified across the data set namely: diversity across practice; unpacking the taken-for-granted and mental health as shared experiences. Participants experienced enhanced communication, improved relationships with mental health staff and developed shared understandings of mental health. This small-scale implementation demonstrates the received value for service users and their networks of an OD-informed approach within a traditional care pathway. As a relational and collaborative way of working, it requires a shift in clinical practice for mental health staff and service users that is experienced as a welcome change from treatment-as-usual (TAU). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grounded in a cultural and contextual perspective, the current study examined the lived experiences and the recovery pathways of three Taiwanese women diagnosed with various subtypes of anorexia nervosa, at varying stages of their recovery. Specifically, using a multiple-case qualitative method, this study explored the complex, dynamic interactions of sociocultural factors and forces (i.e., cultural, familial, and societal influences) that impinge upon the three Taiwanese female participants in relation to living with anorexia nervosa in contemporary Taiwan. Data were collected based on in-depth, semi-structured interviews with the participants and relevant written materials and journal entries provided by these participants. The data were first analyzed within each case and then again across all cases. Accordingly, we present the results of the study by illustrating each participant's story and narrative of struggling with and recovering from anorexia. We then describe three main culturally-related themes that emerged from the cross-case analysis, which pertain specifically to the recovery process of the participants under the East-West 'biculturalism' in Taiwan: 1) anorexia as a function of the conflictual bicultural self; 2) recovery as a pathway towards an integrated bicultural self; and 3) the paradoxical roles of Chinese cultural heritage in anorexia and recovery. Findings of the study highlight the role of local cultural factors/forces, including Chinese familism, Confucianism, filial piety, face-saving, gender role prescriptions, biculturalism, Westernization, and self-relation-coordination, in affecting and shaping Taiwanese women's struggling with anorexia. Implications and recommendations for future research and clinical interventions are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To understand barriers and facilitators of recovery for critical illness survivors', who are discharged home from the hospital and do not have access to dedicated outpatient care. Design: Multi‐site descriptive study guided by interpretive phenomenology using semi‐structured interviews. Methods: Interviews were conducted between December 2017 ‐July 2018. Eighteen participants were included. Data were collected from interview recordings, transcripts, field notes, and a retrospective chart review for sample demographics. Analysis was completed using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis which provided a unique view of recovery through the survivors' personal experiences and perception of those experiences. Results: Participants encountered several barriers to their recovery; however, they were resilient and initiated ways to overcome these barriers and assist with their recovery. Facilitators of recovery experienced by survivors included seeking support from family and friends, lifestyle adaptations, and creative management of their multiple medical needs. Barriers included unmet needs experienced by survivors such as mental health issues, coordination of care, and spiritual needs. These unmet needs left participants feeling unsupported from healthcare providers during their recovery. Conclusion: This study highlights important barriers and facilitators experienced by critical illness survivors during recovery that need be addressed by healthcare providers. New ways to support critical illness survivors, that can reach a broader population, must be developed and evaluated to support survivors during their recovery in the community. Impact: This study addressed ICU survivors' barriers and facilitators to recovery. Participants encountered several barriers to recovery at home, such as physical, cognitive, psychosocial, financial, and transportation barriers, however, these survivors were also resilient and resourceful in the development of strategies to try to manage their recovery at home. These results will help healthcare providers develop interventions to better support ICU survivors in the community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The overall aim of the present paper is to elicit the subjective perceptions and experiences of people with Severe Mental Illness (SMI) involved in a Participatory Video project, with a focus on self-reported impact on recovery. There are 2 subobjectives, namely (a) to document which specific aspects (if any) of Participatory Video project participation are reported to positively influence recovery; and (b) to assess the impact of project involvement on specific dimensions of recovery. Method: In this project, 3 workgroups of people with Severe Mental Illness met approximately twice per week over a 2-year period to make and disseminate educational videos about mental illness. Workgroup participants (n = 20) took part in an in-depth semistructured qualitative interview at project end to understand their experience in the project, especially impact on recovery. Data was analyzed using thematic analysis techniques. Results: At completion, participants had made 26 videos and organized 49 community screenings reaching over 1,500 people. Participants reported that regular involvement in this project fostered their recovery in a variety of ways, imparting multiple psychosocial benefits, which are summarized in 5 themes: (a) skill-acquisition, (b) platform and voice, (c) connectedness, (d) a meaningful focus, and (e) personal development. Conclusions and Implications for Practice: Participatory Video is a powerful group intervention which positively benefits workgroup participants. Importantly, results overlap with other research indicating that grassroots-produced mental health themed videos can educate viewers and reduce public stigma. As such, psychiatric rehabilitation organizations should consider initiating similar projects in their own locales. Impact and Implications: Participatory Video is an innovative group program where marginalized people get together to produce documentary-type videos about their lives, which are then screened at community venues. This study found that regular involvement in a successful Participatory Video program helped foster the recovery of participants with severe mental illness. This suggests that Participatory Video is a recovery-oriented intervention, which could be initiated by mental health services and peer support organizations elsewhere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: On entering Cardiac Rehabilitation (CR), the female cardiac population shows greater fear of overexertion and sense of uncertainty than similarly affected men. The purpose of this study was to explore how women experienced the recovery process after a cardiac event and what impact the event had on bodily experiences. Methods: A qualitative, descriptive design, inspired by a phenomenological approach. Information was collected from 20 women through focus groups and individual in-depth interviews. The material was analyzed with a method of systematic text condensation. Results: The women's recovery after a CE could be a lonely and difficult process. Their own perspectives on what they need in the process is often overlooked, focus being on medical care and clinical recovery in the early phase. Returning home, the women suffered vulnerability, fragility, and insecurity, affecting well-being as well as activity levels. Lack of support and follow-up post-discharge seemed to disturb the progress of the recovery process. Conclusions: Helping the women regain confidence in their new bodies, supporting the personal recovery processes, and bridging the gap between discharge and enrolling in a CR-program could reduce personal stress and withdrawal, thereby empowering more women to start and complete CR programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Disaster response and recovery researchers and policy makers are increasingly attempting to represent the views of children and adolescents alongside those of adults and other community members following disasters. Objective: Children's and adolescents' perspectives regarding the impacts and complications of the 2014 Hazelwood coal mine fire and ongoing smoke pollution event were investigated. Method: Sixty-nine children and adolescents (aged 8–16 years) were interviewed using a semi-structured interview methodology and thematic analysis used to analyse the interviews. Results: The children and adolescents revealed that the smoke and the response of schools, family members and community impacted the social, emotional and academic wellbeing of some children, while others experienced little impact from the event. Some reported awareness of the event complications on their parents and the community, and demonstrated skills to care for themselves and others, and to participate in disaster risk reduction efforts. Conclusion: The perspective of children and adolescents about the consequences of the fire and ensuing circumstances yield important insights which could incorporated into trauma-informed practices and disaster preparation, response and rehabilitation programs to reduce children's and adolescents' vulnerability and to increase their agency following disasters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]