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“I Hope I Can Make it Out There”: Perceptions of Women with Severe Mental Illness on the Transition from Hospital to Community

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Abstract

This study explores the experience of women with severe mental illness in transition from psychiatric hospital care to the community. Three focus groups were conducted among women with severe mental illness from transitional residences at two state psychiatric hospitals. Focus group transcripts and notes were coded according to women’s perceived challenges and facilitators of transition. Participants described several challenges including fear of insufficient treatment support, safety concerns, social isolation, stigma, and lack of resources to meet daily needs. The supports that women described as important were an orientation to the neighborhood and residence, access to treatment support with flexibility, and connection to social supports.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by grant #MH59716 from the National Institute of Mental Health (Daniel B. Herman, PI). The authors gratefully acknowledge the input and work of Doug Goldsmith in the development of this work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Social Work, Virginia Commonwealth University, 1001 West Franklin Street, Richmond, VA, 23223, USA

    Jennifer I. Manuel

  2. Epidemiology, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, CN 6, 42-09 28th Street, Long Island City, NY, 11101-4132, USA

    Kinjia Hinterland

  3. Departments of Psychiatry and Epidemiology, Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health and New York State Psychiatric Institute, 1051 Riverside Drive, Unit 100, New York, NY, 10025, USA

    Sarah Conover & Daniel B. Herman

Authors
  1. Jennifer I. Manuel
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  2. Kinjia Hinterland
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  3. Sarah Conover
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  4. Daniel B. Herman
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Correspondence to Jennifer I. Manuel.

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Manuel, J.I., Hinterland, K., Conover, S. et al. “I Hope I Can Make it Out There”: Perceptions of Women with Severe Mental Illness on the Transition from Hospital to Community. Community Ment Health J 48, 302–308 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-011-9442-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-011-9442-5

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