Abstract
Backgrounde–Mental health resources are increasingly available for people who experience severe mental illness, including those who are users of community mental health services. However, the potential for service users (SUs) living with severe mental illness to use e–mental health resources together with their community mental health workers (MHWs) has received little attention.ObjectiveThis study aims to identify how jointly using an interactive website called Self-Management And Recovery Technology (SMART) in a community mental health context influenced therapeutic processes and interactions between SUs and MHWs from their perspective.MethodsWe conducted a qualitative study using a constructivist grounded theory methodology. Data were collected through individual semistructured interviews with 37 SUs and 15 MHWs who used the SMART website together for 2 to 6 months. Data analysis involved iterative phases of coding, constant comparison, memo writing, theoretical sampling, and consultation with stakeholders to support the study’s credibility.ResultsA substantive grounded theory, discovering ways to keep life on track, was developed, which portrays a shared discovery process arising from the SU-worker-SMART website interactions. The discovery process included choosing to use the website, revealing SUs’ experiences, exploring these experiences, and gaining new perspectives on how SUs did and could keep their lives on track. SUs and MHWs perceived that their three-way interactions were enjoyable, beneficial, and recovery focused when using the website together. They experienced the shared discovery process as relationship building—their interactions when using the website together were more engaging and equal.ConclusionsJointly using an e–mental health resource elicited recovery-oriented interactions and processes between SUs and MHWs that strengthened their therapeutic relationship in real-world community mental health services. Further work to develop and integrate this novel use of e–mental health in community mental health practice is warranted.
Highlights
BackgroundPeople experiencing severe mental illnesses are increasingly using digital technologies and are willing to consider using web-based information and interventions
Jointly using an e–mental health resource elicited recovery-oriented interactions and processes between service user (SU) and mental health worker Self-Management And Recovery Technology (SMART) (MHW) that strengthened their therapeutic relationship in real-world community mental health services
Substantive Grounded Theory: Discovering Ways to Keep Life on Track. This constructivist grounded theory (CGT) study aimed to develop an understanding of the therapeutic processes and interactions that arose when SUs and MHWs jointly used an e–mental health resource in community mental health contexts
Summary
People experiencing severe mental illnesses are increasingly using digital technologies and are willing to consider using web-based information and interventions. These include web-based and mobile-based interventions collectively defined as e–mental health [1]. Thomas et al [8] canvassed community mental health service users (SUs) about their views on using e–mental health resources. They found that most respondents used websites and video streaming when seeking information about mental health on the web and were positive about accessing these types of resources with their mental health workers (MHWs). Making e–mental health resources available to mental health SUs who experience severe mental illness and MHWs to use together appears to be worth pursuing and further understanding
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