title: Community Families: Bridging the gap between mental health services and civil society - A qualitative study from users' perspective.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Social interventions to support people with severe mental illness are important to improving the quality of life. The perspectives of users are essential in this process. This article explores users' experiences, investments and concerns of a befriending programme.
  
  
  METHODS
  Focus group and individual qualitative interviews with service users.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall, the experiences with the programme were positive, and the social interaction was highly valued. However, that the relationships were arranged and facilitated by mental health workers remained an unresolved concern even after several years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  People with severe mental illness benefit from relationships despite the need of professional assistant.
authors.affiliation: 1 DEFACTUM - Public Health & Health Services Research, Central Denmark Region, Aarhus C, Denmark.
authors.forename: Ulla
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Væggemose
authors.affiliation: 1 DEFACTUM - Public Health & Health Services Research, Central Denmark Region, Aarhus C, Denmark.
authors.forename: Stina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lou
authors.affiliation: 1 DEFACTUM - Public Health & Health Services Research, Central Denmark Region, Aarhus C, Denmark.
authors.forename: Michal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Frumer
authors.affiliation: 1 DEFACTUM - Public Health & Health Services Research, Central Denmark Region, Aarhus C, Denmark.
authors.forename: Nanna Limskov Stærk
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Christiansen
authors.affiliation: 2 Unit for Psychiatric Research and Department S, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark.|3 Unit for Psychiatric Research and Department M, Aarhus University Hospital, Risskov, Denmark.
authors.forename: Jørgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Aagaard
authors.affiliation: 1 DEFACTUM - Public Health & Health Services Research, Central Denmark Region, Aarhus C, Denmark.
authors.forename: Lisbeth
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ørtenblad
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003718:Denmark; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008875:Middle Aged; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012934:Social Isolation; D012944:Social Support
keywords: Severe mental illness; befriending; community mental health; qualitative research; social inclusion; users’ perspective