title: Living in supportive housing for people with serious mental illness: a paradoxical everyday life.
abstract: Since the closure of large psychiatric institutions, various types of community-based supportive housing for people with serious mental illness (SMI) have been developed. There is currently limited knowledge about users' experiences of living in supportive housing. The aim of the present study was to describe user experiences of living in supportive housing for people with SMI. Twenty-nine people living in such facilities participated in open, qualitative interviews. Data were subjected to latent content analysis. Three main themes emerged from this analysis: (i) having a nest, which included the subthemes of a place to rest and having someone to attach to; (ii) being part of a group, with the subthemes of being brought together and a community spirit; and (iii) leading an oppressive life, including the subthemes of questioning one's identity, sense of inequality, and a life of gloom. It could be concluded that user experiences of living in supportive housing are complex and paradoxical. In order to provide supportive housing, staff need to recognize and work within social group processes, and perform continual and structural evaluations of users' social and emotional needs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Society, Kristianstad University, Kristianstad, Sweden.
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bengtsson-Tops
authors.forename: Ulf
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Ericsson
authors.forename: Kent
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ehliasson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D011638:Public Housing; D036301:Qualitative Research
keywords: serious mental illness; supportive housing qualitative study.