Rel8: demonstrating the feasibility of delivering an 8-week social skills program in a public mental health setting.
OBJECTIVE
As community mental health services integrate recovery-oriented practices, treatments that focus on skills development and social integration are desirable. This study aimed to examine the feasibility of implementing "Rel8", an 8-week social skills training group adapted to suit a public community mental health setting.


METHODS
A retrospective audit was conducted of quantitative and qualitative data from four groups run between 2011 and 2013. Pre- and post-group measures were collected, assessing self-rated friendships and confidence with social skills and clinician-rated social skill performance. Qualitative feedback about group participation was also collected through use of a developed questionnaire.


RESULTS
Analysis revealed significant improvements in participants' confidence with their social skills following group participation, with a trend also found for improved social skill performance.


CONCLUSIONS
"Rel8", an adapted 8-week social skills training group, is a feasible program in the context of community mental health services. The program added to the recovery-centred practice of the community mental health service while also adding to the diversity of clinician skills for psychosocial-oriented practice.
Senior Clinical Psychologist, Waiora Community Mental Health Service, Alfred Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia b.wauchope@alfred.org.au.
Bronwyn
B
Wauchope
Senior Occupational Therapist, Epworth Rehabilitation, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Alissa
A
Terlich
Mental Health Service Research Officer, Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre, The Alfred and Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Stuart
S
Lee
D000328:Adult; D054869:Clinical Audit; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000379:methods*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012649:Self Concept; D066107:Social Skills; D013222:State Medicine; D014739:Victoria
community mental health services; recovery; schizophrenia; social skills training