New way of working: Professionals’ expectations and experiences of the Culture and Health Project for clients with psychiatric disabilities: A focus group study

Abstract

There is a need for various types of interventions when meeting needs of clients with psychiatric disabilities and complementary interventions may also influence their well-being. The Culture and Health project, based on complementary interventions with 270 clients, was created in a county in Sweden for clients with psychiatric disabilities and for professionals to carry out the interventions. The aim of this study was to investigate the professionals' expectations regarding the project and their clients' possibilities for participating, and to investigate the professionals' experiences of the project after its completion. Focus group data with a total of 30 professionals participating were collected. A qualitative content analysis revealed four categories of the professionals' expectations before entering the project: "Clients' own possibilities and limitations for their development and independence", "Professionals' possibilities for supporting the clients", "Societal prerequisites", and "Expectations of a new way of working". Furthermore, the analysis regarding professionals' experiences after working with the project revealed three categories: "Adopting the challenges", "Having ways of working that function -prerequisites and possibilities", and "Meeting the future -an ambition to continue". Conclusion: Working in the Culture and Health project together with the clients in group-based activities was perceived as beneficial, although challenges arose. When implementing cultural activities, support from stakeholder organisations is needed.

How Social Structures Influence the Labour Market Participation of Individuals with Mental Illness: A Bourdieusian Perspective

“…Research shows that individuals with mental illness are more likely to be unemployed, underemployed and also receive lower wages compared to individuals with other disabled individuals and non‐disabled workers (Hakulinen et al, 2019; Harris et al, 2014; Levinson et al, 2010). They further struggle to maintain employment (Corbière et al, 2011), have fewer career development opportunities (Wästberg et al, 2018) and their integration at work is challenging (Elraz, 2018). This is problematic for both individuals with mental illness and organizations.…”

Exploring mental illness in the workplace:the role of HR professionals and processes

“…Employees with mental illness consistently experience lower employment rates, under-employment, and lower wages (Harris et al, 2014;Krupa, 2010;Perkins & Rinaldi, 2002), and often experience thwarted opportunities for career development as they must explain gaps in employment history and/or fluctuating symptomatology associated with their disorders (Harris et al, 2014). In studies of employees with psychiatric disabilities, it was found that low expectations about their work capacity were embedded in policies and programs, propagated from medical and psychiatric personnel, vocational counselors, family members, friends, and the media (Killeen & O'Day, 2004;Wästberg et al, 2018). Emerging evidence also suggests that workplace factors can significantly affect employees' suicide-related thoughts and behaviours, particularly when organizations are not inclusive Howard et al, 2021).…”

Personal recovery and depression, taking existential and social aspects into account: A struggle with institutional structures, loneliness and identity

“…There is therefore still progress to be made in seeking to recognize and understand how people experience, cope and process, living with depression. There is a need of supplementary and alternative approaches that go beyond traditional understanding of recovery and treatment of psychiatric disabilities striving to meet the individuals' existential and social needs (Forsberg et al, 2010;Wästberg et al, 2018).…”