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Maslow and Mental Health Recovery: A Comparative Study of Homeless Programs for Adults with Serious Mental Illness

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Abstract

This mixed-methods study uses Maslow’s hierarchy as a theoretical lens to investigate the experiences of 63 newly enrolled clients of housing first and traditional programs for adults with serious mental illness who have experienced homelessness. Quantitative findings suggests that identifying self-actualization goals is associated with not having one’s basic needs met rather than from the fulfillment of basic needs. Qualitative findings suggest a more complex relationship between basic needs, goal setting, and the meaning of self-actualization. Transforming mental health care into a recovery-oriented system will require further consideration of person-centered care planning as well as the impact of limited resources especially for those living in poverty.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the National Institute of Mental Health (R01 69865).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Social Work, University of Southern California, 1150 S. Olive Street, #1429, Los Angeles, CA, 90015-2211, USA

    Benjamin F. Henwood & Julie Couture

  2. Silver School of Social Work, 838 Broadway, 3rd Floor, New York Recovery Study, New York, NY, 10003, USA

    Katie-Sue Derejko & Deborah K. Padgett

Authors
  1. Benjamin F. Henwood
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  2. Katie-Sue Derejko
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  3. Julie Couture
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  4. Deborah K. Padgett
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Correspondence to Benjamin F. Henwood.

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Henwood, B.F., Derejko, KS., Couture, J. et al. Maslow and Mental Health Recovery: A Comparative Study of Homeless Programs for Adults with Serious Mental Illness. Adm Policy Ment Health 42, 220–228 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-014-0542-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-014-0542-8

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