Voices of Personal Strengths and Recovery: A Qualitative Study on People with Serious Mental Illnesses with Serious Mental Illnesses

Abstract

Problem Statement: People with mental illnesses may use personal strengths for the recovery of their mental health. However, this often goes uncharted, as the focus has been on psycho-pathophysiology. Research Questions: What were the types of personal strengths possessed by people with serious mental illnesses and how did participants use their personal strengths pertaining to their mental health? Purpose of the Study: The purpose of this study was to examine the personal strengths utilized by how community dwelling adults and their experience of using personal strengths pertaining to their mental health. Research Methods: A cross-sectional, prospective study was conducted on a convenience sample of 102 community-dwelling adults with serious mental illnesses aged between 18 to 65 years old. Qualitative data was obtained from participants who completed structured interviews. Their verbatim was transcribed and analyzed using thematic analysis. With these self-reported data and conduct of member checking, validity of the study was enhanced. Findings: Participants possessed personal strengths such as creativity, resourcefulness and compassion towards others. They utilized their personal strengths to help them in their relationships with other people, with themselves and in the work they do. These personal strengths helped them to recover from mental illnesses as they were able to love and accept others and themselves while overcoming their illnesses. Conclusions: People have an abundance of personal strengths that could help them survive under difficult conditions that are similar to mental illnesses. Personal strengths like compassion and resourcefulness may be utilized by people with mental illnesses to propel them towards recovery.