Esther Ogundipe, Knut Tore Sælør, Kenneth Dybdahl, Larry Davidson and Stian Biong
The purpose of this paper is to explore, describe and interpret two research questions: How do persons with co-occurring mental health and substance abuse problems, living in…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore, describe and interpret two research questions: How do persons with co-occurring mental health and substance abuse problems, living in supportive housing, experience belonging? How do residential support staff experience promoting a sense of belonging for persons with co-occurring mental health and substance abuse problems, living in a supportive housing?
Design/methodology/approach
Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with five persons with co-occurring mental health and substance abuse problems living in supportive housing in a Norwegian district. In addition, one semi-structured focus group was conducted with nine residential support staff. All interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using thematic analysis.
Findings
Analysis resulted in three main themes: “I do not go to sleep in my pajamas”, “Do I have a choice?” and “Be kind to each other”.
Research limitations/implications
More research on how inclusive practices that are commonly described in guidelines actually affect the experience of residents and residential support staff is needed.
Practical implications
Practices that incorporate a communal and contextual understanding when assigning supportive housing are warranted.
Originality/value
By paying attention to the components of social recovery, this paper provides a nuanced understanding of how persons with co-occurring mental health and substance abuse problems, living in supportive housing, experience belonging. In addition, residential support staffs’ experiences with promoting a sense of belonging for this group are explored.
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Eva Brekke, Lars Lien, Larry Davidson and Stian Biong
The purpose of this paper is to explore and describe experiences of recovery among people with co-occurring mental health and substance use conditions (co-occurring conditions) in…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore and describe experiences of recovery among people with co-occurring mental health and substance use conditions (co-occurring conditions) in a rural community in Norway.
Design/methodology/approach
In-depth individual interviews with eight persons with co-occurring conditions were conducted, audiotaped, transcribed and analysed using a phenomenological approach. This study is part of a research project investigating recovery orientation of services in a Norwegian district.
Findings
The analysis yielded four dimensions of recovery: feeling useful and accepted; coming to love oneself; mastering life; and emerging as a person. Insecure and inadequate housing and limited solutions to financial problems were described as major obstacles to recovery.
Research limitations/implications
Further research into the facilitation of recovery as defined by persons with concurrent disorders is needed, particularly regarding the facilitation of community participation.
Practical implications
This study supports an increased focus on societal and community factors in promoting recovery for persons with co-occurring conditions, as well as service designs that allow for an integration of social services and health care, and for collaboration among services.
Social implications
The results suggest that the community can aid recovery by accepting persons with co-occurring conditions as fellow citizens and welcoming their contributions.
Originality/value
The paper provides an enhanced understanding of how persons with co-occurring conditions may experience recovery.
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Esther Ogundipe, Knut Tore Sælør and Stian Biong
This study aims to explore and describe staff working in a Norwegian supportive housing site’s experiences with promoting social community participation for residents with…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to explore and describe staff working in a Norwegian supportive housing site’s experiences with promoting social community participation for residents with co-occurring problems. The research question addressed was: how does residential support staff experience promoting social community participation for residents with co-occurring problems?
Design/methodology/approach
Nine residential support staff participated in qualitative interviews. All interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. The transcripts were analysed using Braun and Clarke's approach to thematic analysis.
Findings
The analysis process resulted in two themes: “It is all about economics” and “Who will pay for it?”
Practical implications
Regarding the Nordic welfare system, the need for a redistribution of financial resources in health services is discussed. The authors recommend that further studies explore people outside the regular health-care system perspectives on how they can contribute to making community inclusion a reality for persons experiencing co-occurring problems.
Originality
This study provides a nuanced understanding of how financial resources can impede or support efforts and opportunities to promote community inclusion for residents experiencing co-occurring problems.
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Knut Tore Sælør, Ottar Ness, Marit Borg and Stian Biong
Hope is regarded central to recovery in a broad range of health conditions including mental health and substance use problems. Still the phenomenon, along with its implications to…
Abstract
Purpose
Hope is regarded central to recovery in a broad range of health conditions including mental health and substance use problems. Still the phenomenon, along with its implications to research and practice, has gained limited attention. The purpose of this paper is to explore first-person accounts of how practitioners nurture and inspire hope.
Design/methodology/approach
This qualitative study is part of a larger action research project. Data were collected using in-depth interviews with eight participants. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed applying thematic analysis.
Findings
Hope was perceived as a central phenomenon to practitioners within mental health and substance use services. The following overarching themes were identified through thematic analysis: “Believing in oneself and others,” “Seeing and acknowledging opportunities” and “maneuvering towards hope.”
Research limitations/implications
It seems that there is a need for extending knowledge in how practitioners may inspire hope. In addition there seems to be a need for developing more knowledge on how practitioners’ own hope may be nurtured within a system that is constantly undergoing change and new demands.
Practical implications
Participants considered their own hope as a prerequisite in being able to hope on behalf of others and strategies for inspiring hope were presented on both an individual and system level. Working conditions and challenges within the service system in itself entailed challenges, which at times made nurturing hope difficult. Systems need to embrace flexibility and openness, allowing efforts aimed at inspiring hope to be made. In addition, practitioner’s own hope and the importance of nurturing it, needs to be acknowledged within services. Hope needs to be viewed as a joint venture, in context and in relation to others.
Originality/value
The paper contributes to the knowledge base on hope inspiring practices within a field sometimes associated with challenges and despair. It points out some important preconditions in relation to the challenges practitioners might encounter, both on an individual level and in relation to the service system per se.