Making connections: Severe mental illness and closeness with other people |
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| Authors: | Jonathan D Prince Jacqueline Ansbrow Anne Bennedict Joanna DiCostanzo Olivia Mora Andrew D Schonebaum |
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| Institution: | 1. Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College, City University of New York, New York, New York, USA;2. School of Public Health, City University of New York, New York, New York, USA;3. Smith College School for Social Work, New York, New York, USA;4. Fountain House Inc., New York, New York, USA |
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| Abstract: | Much has been written about social lives of people with severe mental illness (SMI). Before social lives can flourish, however, people with SMI must first get close to other people. We studied this closeness by holding three hour-long focus groups at Fountain House, a community mental health agency in New York City. We found that closeness between two people with SMI is challenging because someone with depression, for example, may have trouble understanding someone with a different disorder (e.g., schizophrenia). Romantically, closeness is also challenging—SMI is hard to explain to partners. In the workplace, closeness is difficult because SMI can alienate co-workers. It could push them away. In mental health programs, we found that closeness has more of a chance to develop (1) during evening and weekend activities; (2) when activities are planned often enough to prevent isolation; and (3) when staff reach out to people before extended absence causes distance. |
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| Keywords: | Closeness community mental health depression isolation mental health psychosocial intervention severe mental illness social support |
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