Recovery on the Pitch: Street Football as a Means of Social Inclusion

Abstract

The study contributes to the existing literature on the value of street football teams in recovery, by exploring how persons with mental health and/or substance abuse problems experience participation in street football teams. In total, 51 persons experiencing mental health and/or substance abuse challenges who played in street football teams, in Norway, participated in focus group interviews. The interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were analyzed using thematic content analysis, and resulted in three major themes: (1) The spirit of the football team, (2) More than just a pitch, and (3) The country's best follow-up system. Overall, our findings highlighted the importance of community and communal efforts through acts of citizenship, in facilitating and promoting social inclusion for persons in challenging life situations. Street football is one measure than can be helpful in this context. Communities, policy makers and funders need to acknowledge and gain more insight and understanding of the value that street football teams represent. There is also a need for further studies exploring what contributes to community in our highly individualistic society.

Recovery-Oriented Practices in Community-based Mental Health Services: A Systematic Review

“…The practices included psychoeducational programs ( 16 - 21 ), tele-psychiatric interventions ( 18 , 22 , 23 ), home visits ( 18 , 24 - 26 ), E-mental health interventions ( 23 , 27 , 28 ), recreational activities ( 29 - 31 ), family-based interventions or assessments ( 16 , 18 , 32 , 33 ), transitional interventions for de-hospitalization ( 25 , 34 , 35 ), special service programs ( 36 - 42 ), public policies or services ( 43 - 46 ), and employment support ( 21 , 24 , 39 , 42 , 47 ). These practices and services were provided by nurses, social workers, peer workers, psychiatrists, psychologists, and mental health workers.…”

“…The recreational activities that have been shown to have positive outcomes among participants include artistic and sport activities, such as singing, football, and creative writing groups ( 29 - 31 ).…”

Social recovery and economy: a thematic analysis of staffs’ experiences with promoting social community participation for residents with co-occurring problems

“…From a social recovery perspective, practices that address financial barriers for equal opportunities for social community participation are important. Although having the opportunity to go to the cinema, eat at a restaurant or go to a football match does not necessarily solve the other problems of life, there are examples of how participating in social arenas can be a turning point for an individual in recovery (Benkwitz and Healy, 2019;Lamont et al, 2017;Ogundipe et al, 2020a). Social recovery is in part about what is essential to most human beings, namely, social relationships and having fun (Karlsson and Borg, 2017).…”

Innledning

“…Tanken viste seg å vaere god. I dag har 28 norske fotballklubber egne «Gatefotballag», alle i naert samarbeid med kommunens rus-og psykiatritjeneste, men likevel som en selvstendig og dokumentert entreprenøriell måte å løse et sammensatt problem på (Kobro et al, 2019;Thompson et al, 2019;Ogundipe et al, 2020). Virksomheten er nå inne på statsbudsjettet og koordineres av en felles stiftelse nasjonalt, på vegne av de involverte klubbene.…”