Psychosocial rehabilitation for people with mental illness in the South African context : an evaluation from a service-users perspective

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dc.contributor.advisorSwartz, Sallyen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorGrobbelaar, Deniseen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2015-10-25T17:08:31Z
dc.date.available2015-10-25T17:08:31Z
dc.date.issued2010en_ZA
dc.descriptionIncludes bibliographical references (leaves 83-93).en_ZA
dc.description.abstractThe aim of this study was to explore perceived significant changes in the quality of life of people with mental illness accessing psychosocial rehabilitation programmes. Furthermore a comparison was drawn between the outcomes experienced by these service-users and the vision and aims of Cape Mental Health Society's programmes. These included the Fountain House clubhouse model, community-based support groups, supported housing and a self-advocacy body. The aim of psychosocial rehabilitation as an empowerment model is that service-users gain improved functioning, an increase in social functioning and an enhancement of their subjective quality of life. Embedded in these programmes is the provision of safe spaces, where meaningful interactions with others in shared activities occur. This contributes to skills development, social competence and the building of a positive sense of self, which is in line with principles of the recovery paradigm. Few such services exist in Cape Town, South Africa and no relevant studies have been documented. A qualitative participatory approach was used utilising focus groups on two levels: first in mapping the territory and defining outcomes according to service-users; and secondly, for data collection of lived experiences of participants. The 'most significant change technique', a process which involves the collection of stories of subjective change, was used to focus the group processes. All groups were digitally recorded and transcribed. Data was examined according to a basic method of thematic analysis and participants' stories were classified according to broad domains of social, personal, learning, work, and living. A total of 44 service- 4 users from the four Cape Mental Health Society programmes, all diagnosed with severe mental illness, from varied demographic backgrounds and levels of functioning participated in nine focus groups. Participants felt that in attending the programmes they had experienced improved interpersonal connection, interaction and activity. This then seems to indicate some process of reclamation and recovery in the face of the loss of meaningful relationships when becoming ill with a mental illness. The positive benefits experienced by participants in the supportive community offered by the programmes, seem to be in line with programme objectives. The findings support the importance of opportunities for participation in valued meaningful activities, within a social context. Participants felt that by attending the programmes they benefitted on a personal level, building a positive sense of self, which included increased confidence and self-esteem, gaining hope, improved positive attitude, self-knowledge and acceptance, increase in motivation, increased vitality, increased motivation, increased awareness and interest in life, and gaining a sense of purpose and meaning. Subjective quality of life improvements for most participants in this study included an improved positive sense of self as well as valued socialization experiences, confirming the importance of these factors in recovery. The Cape Mental Health Society psychosocial rehabilitation programmes are accordingly robust in nature. In line with the philosophy of psychosocial rehabilitation and recovery principles, the programmes seem to be providing safe spaces for people with mental illness, creating opportunities for meaningful interactions with others, 5 thereby enhancing the confidence and self-esteem of participants while, at the same time building social skills.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationGrobbelaar, D. (2010). <i>Psychosocial rehabilitation for people with mental illness in the South African context : an evaluation from a service-users perspective</i>. (Thesis). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Psychology. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/14331en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationGrobbelaar, Denise. <i>"Psychosocial rehabilitation for people with mental illness in the South African context : an evaluation from a service-users perspective."</i> Thesis., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Psychology, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/14331en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationGrobbelaar, D. 2010. Psychosocial rehabilitation for people with mental illness in the South African context : an evaluation from a service-users perspective. University of Cape Town.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Grobbelaar, Denise AB - The aim of this study was to explore perceived significant changes in the quality of life of people with mental illness accessing psychosocial rehabilitation programmes. Furthermore a comparison was drawn between the outcomes experienced by these service-users and the vision and aims of Cape Mental Health Society's programmes. These included the Fountain House clubhouse model, community-based support groups, supported housing and a self-advocacy body. The aim of psychosocial rehabilitation as an empowerment model is that service-users gain improved functioning, an increase in social functioning and an enhancement of their subjective quality of life. Embedded in these programmes is the provision of safe spaces, where meaningful interactions with others in shared activities occur. This contributes to skills development, social competence and the building of a positive sense of self, which is in line with principles of the recovery paradigm. Few such services exist in Cape Town, South Africa and no relevant studies have been documented. A qualitative participatory approach was used utilising focus groups on two levels: first in mapping the territory and defining outcomes according to service-users; and secondly, for data collection of lived experiences of participants. The 'most significant change technique', a process which involves the collection of stories of subjective change, was used to focus the group processes. All groups were digitally recorded and transcribed. Data was examined according to a basic method of thematic analysis and participants' stories were classified according to broad domains of social, personal, learning, work, and living. A total of 44 service- 4 users from the four Cape Mental Health Society programmes, all diagnosed with severe mental illness, from varied demographic backgrounds and levels of functioning participated in nine focus groups. Participants felt that in attending the programmes they had experienced improved interpersonal connection, interaction and activity. This then seems to indicate some process of reclamation and recovery in the face of the loss of meaningful relationships when becoming ill with a mental illness. The positive benefits experienced by participants in the supportive community offered by the programmes, seem to be in line with programme objectives. The findings support the importance of opportunities for participation in valued meaningful activities, within a social context. Participants felt that by attending the programmes they benefitted on a personal level, building a positive sense of self, which included increased confidence and self-esteem, gaining hope, improved positive attitude, self-knowledge and acceptance, increase in motivation, increased vitality, increased motivation, increased awareness and interest in life, and gaining a sense of purpose and meaning. Subjective quality of life improvements for most participants in this study included an improved positive sense of self as well as valued socialization experiences, confirming the importance of these factors in recovery. The Cape Mental Health Society psychosocial rehabilitation programmes are accordingly robust in nature. In line with the philosophy of psychosocial rehabilitation and recovery principles, the programmes seem to be providing safe spaces for people with mental illness, creating opportunities for meaningful interactions with others, 5 thereby enhancing the confidence and self-esteem of participants while, at the same time building social skills. DA - 2010 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2010 T1 - Psychosocial rehabilitation for people with mental illness in the South African context : an evaluation from a service-users perspective TI - Psychosocial rehabilitation for people with mental illness in the South African context : an evaluation from a service-users perspective UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/14331 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/14331
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationGrobbelaar D. Psychosocial rehabilitation for people with mental illness in the South African context : an evaluation from a service-users perspective. [Thesis]. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Psychology, 2010 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/14331en_ZA
dc.language.isoengen_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Psychologyen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Humanitiesen_ZA
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subject.otherClinical Psychologyen_ZA
dc.titlePsychosocial rehabilitation for people with mental illness in the South African context : an evaluation from a service-users perspectiveen_ZA
dc.typeMaster Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationnameMAen_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceThesisen_ZA
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