Abstract
Introduction: A time-use focused intervention, Action Over Inertia (AOI) designed to address restricted activity patterns and support recovery, was adapted for use in Australian community residential mental health services.Method: Qualitative case study research explored the use of AOI groups across three Community Care Units from the perspectives of group participants with enduring mental illness and group facilitators. Fifteen interviews were conducted: five group participants were interviewed twice 4 weeks apart, and five group facilitators on completion of the group intervention. Interview data were analyzed thematically using constant comparative methods.Findings: Two overarching themes, “Making Change” and “Facilitating Change” were identified. Efforts to make change in their lives were supported by participants recognising the value of personally meaningful activities for well-being and of activity experiences that fostered hope and recovery, whereas a sense of “stuckness,” time for activities and life events could disrupt “getting me going.” For the facilitators, facilitating change involved recognizing inertia as a challenge; getting people going; and looking at how AOI intervention works to impact inertia.Conclusion: AOI in a group format supports participants to identify barriers to more active living; to appreciate how time-use and well-being interrelate; and to reframe and take steps to overcome inertia. Further research should evaluate AOI groups as a means of providing individualized support for activity re-engagement as part of recovery oriented mental health rehabilitation.
Highlights
A time-use focused intervention, Action Over Inertia (AOI) designed to address restricted activity patterns and support recovery, was adapted for use in Australian community residential mental health services
This paper reports qualitative case study research of a group-based Action Over Inertia intervention involving adults with enduring mental illness in Australian community residential rehabilitation programs, the overall aim of which was to understand its use in this setting from the viewpoints of group participants and facilitators
Two overaching themes, “Making Change” and “Facilitating Change” were identified, representing perspectives of Community Care Unit (CCU) residents who participated in AOI groups and the group facilitators, respectively
Summary
Key differences include that recovery informed practices are person driven, rights-based and foster choice and self-determination, selfchosen goals and directions; they foster hope, collaborative partnerships, and engagement of support networks; and focus on strengths, developing capabilities and community participation [4]. An evidence base informed by experiential and scientific research for psychosocial interventions using approaches focused on individualized support, skill development, and peer involvement has developed to support people in their personal recovery [4, 5]. Most notably in the vocational domain, a strong evidence base for individualized support to enable engagement in education and employment has developed [6], while healthy lifestyle interventions that typically target physical activity are increasingly recognized as important in recovery [7, 8]. Strengths and recovery informed approaches emphasize the provision of supports to identify and pursue self-chosen goals in life domains broadly [4, 9, 10]
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