Facilitating Social Integration for People With Severe Mental Illness Served by Assertive Community Treatment

Ethical Dilemmas of Participation of Service Users with Serious Mental Illness: A Thematic Synthesis

“…They claim to do so in order to build trust. In a trustful relationship, service users might accept more professional support than they are initially inclined, or at least not decline services altogether (Linz & Sturm, 2016). Alternatively, professionals negotiate a course of action that reflects a compromise between the user's wishes and the mental healthcare workers' recommendations (Lakeman, 2010).…”

“…Professionals' experience with fostering an independent lifestyle Professionals try to help service users develop an independent lifestyle as this enhances the user's self-esteem and wellbeing (Erdner & Magnusson, 2012) and leads to community participation (Linz & Sturm, 2016). Professionals try to foster independence by motivating service users to get up (on time) in the morning (Saavedra et al, 2012), go for walks, doing crossword puzzles (Erdner & Magnusson, 2012;Graneheim et al, 2014;Valentini et al, 2016) or engaging in structured activities such as following education, doing volunteer work or going on pre-employment programs (Linz & Sturm, 2016). Professionals also motivate service users to become aware of social norms, to follow the norms and 'act normal' in order to be accepted by the community and form relationships with other community members (H€ ogberg et al, 2006;Linz & Sturm, 2016).…”

“…Professionals try to foster independence by motivating service users to get up (on time) in the morning (Saavedra et al, 2012), go for walks, doing crossword puzzles (Erdner & Magnusson, 2012;Graneheim et al, 2014;Valentini et al, 2016) or engaging in structured activities such as following education, doing volunteer work or going on pre-employment programs (Linz & Sturm, 2016). Professionals also motivate service users to become aware of social norms, to follow the norms and 'act normal' in order to be accepted by the community and form relationships with other community members (H€ ogberg et al, 2006;Linz & Sturm, 2016). This includes motivating service users to keep up their hygiene, by changing clothes and showering regularly (Erdner & Magnusson, 2012;Saavedra et al, 2012).…”

“…Besides motivating service users, professionals taught skills related to managing daily life and coping with illness by focusing on the user's healthy traits and encouraging them to apply their own abilities and capacity for self-care. Some professionals stress the importance of the relationship with the professional as the first step in learning skills, specifically social skills (Linz & Sturm, 2016). Contrary to this, professionals in some studies say that most conversations with service users are about practical issues and medication (Graneheim et al, 2014).…”

“…Contrary to this, professionals in some studies say that most conversations with service users are about practical issues and medication (Graneheim et al, 2014). Lastly, professionals arrange activities such as community outings, organize peer-sharing groups on experiences or learning skills, and create educational and vocational opportunities for service users (Linz & Sturm, 2016). In some studies, professionals elaborated on barriers they experience in engaging service users to develop an independent lifestyle.…”