Coping with mental health issues: subjective experiences of self-help and helpful contextual factors at the start of mental health treatment.
BACKGROUND
Self-help strategies and various contextual factors support recovery. However, more in-depth knowledge is needed about how self-help strategies and supportive environments facilitate the recovery process.


OBJECTIVE
To explore what individuals who have recently been referred to a specialist Community Mental Health Center experience as helpful and what they do to help themselves.


METHODS
Ten service users participated in in-depth interviews within a collaborative-reflexive framework. A hermeneutic-phenomenological approach was used.


RESULTS
Participants described a variety of helpful strategies and environmental supports. Four relevant main themes were identified: helpful activities, helpful people and places, self-instruction and learning about mental problems and medication and self-medication.


CONCLUSIONS
The process of recovery is initiated before people become users of mental health services. This study confirms that recovery takes place within the person's daily life context and involves the interplay of contextual factors, such as family, friends, good places, work and other meaningful activities. The coping strategies reported may represent an important focus for attention and clinical intervention.
a Helse Fonna Local Health Authority , Haugesund , Norway .|b Regional Research Network on Mood Disorders (MoodNet) , Bergen , Norway .
Eva
E
Biringer
c Department of Psychiatry , Yale University School of Medicine , New Haven , CT , USA , and.
Larry
L
Davidson
b Regional Research Network on Mood Disorders (MoodNet) , Bergen , Norway .
Bengt
B
Sundfør
a Helse Fonna Local Health Authority , Haugesund , Norway .
Haldis Ø
HØ
Lier
b Regional Research Network on Mood Disorders (MoodNet) , Bergen , Norway .|d Faculty of Health Sciences , Buskerud and Vestfold University College , Drammen , Norway.
Marit
M
Borg
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003156:Community Mental Health Services; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D011584:Psychology; D012648:Self Care / Q000523:psychology*; D012944:Social Support; D055815:Young Adult
Mental health; coping; psychosocial; recovery; self-help; self-management