Authors (including presenting author) :
Mak CW(1)(2) Wong MO(1) Yip MK(1) Tsang HH(1) Fong HS(1)
Affiliation :
(1)Community Psychiatric Service, North District Hospital (2)Community Psychiatric Service,NDH,TPH,AHNH,SH
Introduction :
The World Health Organization suggested promoting self-help in community to relieve the mental healthcare system as it is in heavy demands in recent years. Therefore, providing support for the people in recovery (PIR) from severe mental illness in coping with distress and sustaining well-being in the community is essential. Mental illnesses elicit traumatic experiences and losses, but PIR’s social needs cannot be catered for in current healthcare system, thus they tend to develop sense of helplessness and loneliness. In Hong Kong, there are limited self-help support programs for PIR. Hence, this program was launched with peer support worker aiming to enhance PIR’s self-esteem, coping skills and mutual support.
Objectives :
1.To empower the PIR in recovery 2.To strengthen coping skills of PIR 3.To enhance mutual support among PIR
Methodology :
From February to October 2019, PIR who were under community psychiatric service of North District Hospital were recruited by convenience sampling. A total of 4 sessions were held bimonthly, each lasted for 2 hours with take-home assignment in interval months. Sessions content included face-mask drawing (self-understanding enhancement), life auction (goals setting), roleplays of interpersonal conflict (conflict management), cooperative mini games (self-help and mutual support promotion) and educational talk (illness management). Telecare sessions were provided for delivering the content of missing sessions to the absentees. The Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale and The Brief COPE were analyzed by Wilcoxon signed-rank test to evaluate pre- and post- outcome. Reflection session was arranged to share the experience in mutual support.
Result & Outcome :
A total of 23 PIR (87% female and 13% male; age=44±13.61 years) were recruited. They were diagnosed with severe mental illnesses (Illness duration=11±7.52 years) including major depression (35%), schizophrenia (30%) and Bipolar Affective Disorder (22%). Significant improvement was discovered in the problem-focused coping of Brief COPE (p< 0.02) and the total score of Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale (p< 0.02). Over 90% of them stated that they gained mutual support in this program. In conclusion, this empowerment program showed remarkably positive results on participants’ coping skills, self-esteem and mutual support. This outcome suggests that this program can promote PIR’s mental well-being and hopefully to relieve the heavy mental healthcare system by enhancing self-help and support in the community.
