Tenth International Conference on Health, Wellness & Society

Abstract

Persons with severe mental illness living in community residential facilities may encounter barriers to advance their wellness within such facilities. Therefore, a study was conducted to identify the barriers and difficulties experienced by persons with mental illness to advance healthy nutrition habits and involvement in physical activities during their participation in a health promotion program, and the differences in their perception of the barriers as a result of participation in the programs. Design and method quantitative and qualitative methods were implemented with eighty-four persons who participated in six health promotion programs. The research instruments included a structured instrument of the participants’ perception of the barriers to advance wellness, and interviews with the participants. The findings illuminate that among the challenges are individual barriers, such as period of relapse in their mental health situation, and co-morbid illnesses. In addition, participants experienced social and systemic barriers such as limited room for choice or control over the nutrition served in community residential facilities, or lack of companionship for wellness related activities such as physical activities. These barriers include deficits in elements that could be essential for the advancement of wellness, such as control and choice. Comparison between the beginning and end of the program indicate significant reduction in the perceived knowledge and accessibility to wellness activities related barriers. The findings indicate that any health promotion program should include not only the provision of knowledge about healthy nutrition, but also approaches aimed at reducing individual and systemic barriers.