"It's important to be proud of the place you live in": housing problems and preferences of psychiatric survivors.
OBJECTIVE
It is important to understand housing and mental health issues from the perspective of psychiatric survivors. This paper reports findings from a series of focus group meetings held with survivors of mental illness to address issues concerning housing preferences and housing needs.


METHODS
The discussions were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using an ethnographic method of analysis. The themes that emerged related to oppression, social networks and social supports, housing conditions, poverty and finances, and accessing services. Participants described the ongoing stigma, discrimination, and poverty that reduced their access to safe, adequate housing.


RESULTS
They preferred independent housing where supports would be available as needed. Participants described the dilemma of having to choose between the housing they wanted and the supports they needed, since supports were often contingent upon living in a less desirable housing situation.


CONCLUSIONS
Nurses and other mental healthcare workers need to be aware of these issues for discharge planning, community support, and ongoing advocacy. The survivor voices need to be heard by decision-makers at various levels of government in order for housing policy to become more receptive to their realities.
University of Western Ontario/Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON, Canada. cforchuk@uwo.ca
Cheryl
C
Forchuk
Geoffrey
G
Nelson
G Brent
GB
Hall
D000884:Anthropology, Cultural; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D003688:Deinstitutionalization; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D016352:Group Homes / Q000592:standards*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D028642:Persons with Psychiatric Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D020380:Needs Assessment; D024802:Nurse's Role; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009864:Ontario; D010344:Patient Advocacy; D010351:Patient Discharge; D011203:Poverty / Q000523:psychology; D011287:Prejudice; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration; D011638:Public Housing / Q000592:standards*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012944:Social Support; D013240:Stereotyping; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*