Mental health centres as ‘meeting-places’ in the community: exploring experiences of being service users and participants

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to present and discuss findings from a qualitative study within mental health centres called 'meeting-places' in the community. Ten service users were interviewed in order to explore and gain insight into what visiting the centres might mean in the daily life situations of people who experience mental health problems. The interviewees were recruited during fieldwork within these centres, aiming to facilitate the inclusion of service users who wished to share their experiences, but who might not otherwise come forward as research participants. Three main themes were identified in the data analysis: 'To belong and be recognized', 'Needs for support and challenges', and 'Participation and everyday life'. Flexible community mental health services can be helpful by offering support and challenges as well as possibilities for mutual relationships. However, the study also highlights a lack of opportunities for participation and recognition in the wider society.

Craft activities in groups at meeting places: supporting mental health users' everyday occupations

“…They state that participants should shape the services together with the professionals to provide flexible and accepting environments. These services seemed to be what participants needed, which is in line with corresponding studies (12,14).…”

“…Small talk developed into an experience and, furthermore, cultivated social skills. Simply being present in a craft group did not guarantee inclusion (12,13), but the familiarity of doing crafts made small talk easier, and became a kind of social glue for the group. This finding stressed the idea that mental health illness is not a permanent condition (5,6); instead, it exemplifies how people can recover various functions.…”

“…Studies have examined meeting places and day care-centres after nationwide reforms had been implemented (2,(12)(13)(14)(15). Two studies (12,13) have focused on the service delivery of meeting places and how participants influenced the development of these services. As a result, these studies have underscored the significance of participants having opportunities to develop the meeting places not only at a political and organizational level, but also in contexts in which both participants and staff collaborated.…”

Editorial Review: Touring the Archive 1999–2017 and Mapping the Future of Scandinavian Journal of Disability Research

“…How disabled people can go through "normal" transitions in the life course, while living separated lives has long been a theme in the Journal. For example, Elstad & Kristiansen (2009) have pointed out how confinement to specific spaces produce a lack of opportunities for participation and recognition in the wider society. While Bjarnason (2005) highlights how important mainstream schools are in placing young people on vastly different tracks, independent of their disability labels; either on a track that leads them to an interdependent adulthood or on a track within a special world for "eternal children."…”

Privacy, meetings and rejections – a qualitative study of everyday life among young persons with psychiatric disabilities

“…The day centres offered opportunities to regularly participate and socialize with others, creating regular routines in everyday life. To be among others offers a possibility to identify with others and creates feelings of solidarity (Elstad and Kristiansen 2009;Goffman 1982;Nordströ m et al 2009a). For some informants, however, visits to the day centre affected their identity in a negative way.…”