TY - JOUR
T1 - Is It Safe? Community Integration for Individuals With Serious Mental Illnesses
AU - Pahwa, Rohini
AU - Dougherty, Ryan J.
AU - Kelly, Erin
AU - Davis, Lisa
AU - Smith, Melissa E.
AU - Brekke, John S.
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This work was supported by New York University, Research Challenge Grant, “Community Integration of Individuals with severe mental illness—the social networks qualitative study” (6/17-11/18) and funds from Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work at University of Southern California.
Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2020.
PY - 2022/10
Y1 - 2022/10
N2 - Purpose: Community integration is a key component of recovery for individuals with serious mental illnesses (SMIs). The goal of the current study is to explore the nature and impact of safety concerns for experiences of communities for individuals with SMIs. Method: Using constructivist grounded theory, 30 semistructured interviews were analyzed to explore the depth and breadth of individuals’ safety concerns, how individuals manage these concerns, and how these concerns shape their community experiences. Findings: Participants described various unsafe encounters related to neighborhood disorder, homelessness, traumatic experiences, substance use, stigma, and loss of relationships and multiple strategies to manage their safety. Many saw mental health services as a sanctuary from the dangers of their environment, providing support, resources, and coping skills. For many, future communities were envisioned within the context of safety. Conclusions: Service providers should consider safety as a critical issue that impacts how individuals experience their current and future communities.
AB - Purpose: Community integration is a key component of recovery for individuals with serious mental illnesses (SMIs). The goal of the current study is to explore the nature and impact of safety concerns for experiences of communities for individuals with SMIs. Method: Using constructivist grounded theory, 30 semistructured interviews were analyzed to explore the depth and breadth of individuals’ safety concerns, how individuals manage these concerns, and how these concerns shape their community experiences. Findings: Participants described various unsafe encounters related to neighborhood disorder, homelessness, traumatic experiences, substance use, stigma, and loss of relationships and multiple strategies to manage their safety. Many saw mental health services as a sanctuary from the dangers of their environment, providing support, resources, and coping skills. For many, future communities were envisioned within the context of safety. Conclusions: Service providers should consider safety as a critical issue that impacts how individuals experience their current and future communities.
KW - community
KW - community mental health services
KW - safety
KW - serious mental illnesses
KW - trauma
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U2 - 10.1177/1049731520951628
DO - 10.1177/1049731520951628
M3 - Editorial
AN - SCOPUS:85090061166
VL - 32
SP - 826
EP - 838
JO - Research on Social Work Practice
JF - Research on Social Work Practice
SN - 1049-7315
IS - 7
ER -