Experience of meaning in everyday occupations among unemployed people with severe mental illness

• Background. Knowledge about how people with severe mental illness find meaning in non-work occupations is important in order to develop programmes of meaningful daily occupations for this group. Purpose. To examine the meaning daily occupations may bring to those who are severely mentally ill and unemployed. Methods. Twelve unemployed people with severe mental illness were interviewed regarding their experience of meaning in daily occupations.Findings. Meaning was experienced in a balance between occupations that helped the informants control their mental illness. Themes of meaning were: feeling competent and being socially engaged, having routines and being productive, being creative and seeking knowledge, and taking care of body and mind. Substitutes for paid work were found in occupations such as taking care of the household or being productive at a day centre.Implications. People with severe mental illness should be allowed to play an active role in their rehabilitation process, using the occupational therapist for forming daily routines, creating a balance between work-like and restful occupations, finding occupations that meet one’s skills and training social behaviour. Besides, work-related occupations should be emphasized in the rehabilitation.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Arbetsterapi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Occupational Therapy (hsv//eng)

Keyword

occupational value

occupational meaning

mental health

Occupational therapy

Arbetsterapi

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)