Educating for Wellness: A Wellness Education Group Intervention for Adults with Chronic Severe Mental Illness Living in the Community

Abstract

Chronic severe mental illness (CSMI) is a common disorder in the United States associated with numerous adverse health effects. Health promotion educational interventions can be beneficial. The purpose of this project was to implement and evaluate a community-based educational program for adults with CSMI.Analyses of quantitative and qualitative data showed overall satisfaction with the program and achievement of some specific consumer health modifications. Three primary areas of interest and benefit included socialization and support, education and information, and motivation to change. The Wellness Education Group Intervention (WEGI) can serve as a model for wellness education with adults in similar communities.

Experiences of Major Depression: Individuals’ Perspectives on the Ability to Understand and Handle the Illness

“…Patient education has been used to increase patients' understanding of their depressive illness, and studies have shown that such education improves patients' problem-solving capacity, help-seeking behaviour, personal prevention of depression, management of symptoms, adherence to treatment, and support (Han, Chen, Hwant, & Wei, 2006;Sanford et al, 2006;Seedat, Haskins, & Stein, 2008;Van Metre, Chiappetta, Siedel, Fan, & Mitchell, 2011).…”

Perceptions of strategies for successful weight loss in persons with serious mental illness participating in a behavioral weight loss intervention: A qualitative study.

“…Aschbrenner et al, 2013; K. A. Aschbrenner et al, 2013; Lesley & Livingood, 2015; Ussher et al, 2007; Van Metre et al, 2011). Qualitative studies of participants in the In SHAPE intervention have shown that participants perceive support from heath-promotion employees and fitness trainers to be key facilitators to meeting weight loss and fitness goals (K.…”

“…Improving our understanding in this area is a critical step in moving successful behavioral weight loss interventions into standard practice. Participation of consumers in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of such interventions is widely acknowledged as a core part of the recovery-oriented systems of care for persons with serious mental illness (Dixon et al, 2010 The present study builds on multiple prior studies that have primarily focused on consumers' perceptions of the barriers to and facilitators of changing dietary and physical activity behavior and related weight loss (K. Cabassa, Siantz, Nicasio, Guarnaccia, & Lewis-Fernandez, 2014;Galletly & Murray, 2009;Glover, Ferron, & Whitley, 2013;Graham, Griffiths, Tillotson, & Rollings, 2013;Klingaman, Viverito, Medoff, Hoffmann, & Goldberg, 2014;Kwan et al, 2014;Lesley & Livingood, 2015;Leutwyler, Hubbard, Slater, & Jeste, 2014;McDevitt, Snyder, Miller, & Wilbur, 2006;Roberts & Bailey, 2011;Schneider, Sullivan, & Pagoto, 2011;Shiner, Whitley, Van Citters, Pratt, & Bartels, 2008;Soundy, Stubbs, Probst, Hemmings, & Vancampfort, 2014;Ussher, Stanbury, Cheeseman, & Faulkner, 2007;Van Metre, Chiappetta, Siedel, Fan, & Mitchell, 2011). Common barriers and facilitators have emerged across studies, many of which are also present in the literature on weight loss in the general population.…”

Experiences of Patients with Bipolar Disorder in a Psychoeducational Group: A Qualitative Study

“…Consequently, fostering friendship ties between users is a way of favouring their empowerment in terms of healthcare as well as socialization and support. [16] Learning in psychoeducational groups was experienced as a process by the interviewees. Several aspects were a motive of great concern for the participants, namely: bipolar disorder itself, medication, and its chronic nature.…”