Sagatun

Click here for the full report (in norwegian)

Number: 1
Year: 2011
Pages: 106
ISBN: 978-82-7671-810-2
ISSN: 1501-8563
Financed by: Hedmark University College and Sagatun Userinvolment
centre
Keywords: User-involvement, mental health, evaluation

Summary

The purpose of this report is to get an understanding of how earlier regular users at Sagatun user-driven center have perceived the time they were active at the center and if this has had any impact on their current situation. The report shall help to highlight which factors the center should emphasize in the future. The study has a hermeneutic approach where human experiences are applied as tool to get a better understanding of the phenomena. The report is based on qualitative interviews with 14 former regular users of the center. Persons who are personally involved in the phenomena studied and have experience of how it feels to be a user at the center. The analysis in the report is databased (Malterud, 2006) and the analysis chosen is qualitative content analysis as described by Granheim and Lundman (2003). The findings were categorized in two main themes; A new way to define themselves and to be a significant part of a community with corresponding categories and subcategories. In the theme a new way to define themselves the focus on the healthy was a prominent part. It was about the fact that focus was placed on development and not limitations, that they could be themselves and stand up as who they are. The center does not engage in any treatment but the findings show that being there still has a therapeutic effect. A factor to be aware of in relation to this focus is if it can cause one to fail to use the center in times of sickness. Another central element in relation to this theme is how work and activities have contributed to lift people. It’s important that there are meaningful activities that are useful both for oneself and the community. Such activity is at the same time contributing to important coping experiences. Under the theme to be a significant part of the community three categories stood out; an including environment, to feel a sense of belonging and develop social relations. The environment is described as open, warm and including where one feels welcome. A place where one feels secure, experiences friendship and equality and where one gets access to social networking and are able to build social networks themselves. As it turns out you have to be aware of and work with this environment so that it does not develop to be so closed with unwritten rules of participation and behaviors that can be hard for others to participate in. The results show that the users are a group of many resources, and that by applying and promoting these resources can create healing processes in relation to their own mental health. Through participation in work and activities based on the needs of the users they perceive mastery and belonging in a social community. Nine of the users are through the help of the center back in work or school. User-led initiatives bases on activity and community can help increased participation and give opportunities for social and occupational rehabilitation. The results of this report show that User- driven center is a necessary and important service that can provide an arena for activity, coping and social community on their own terms for people with mental health problems. The service provided gives a setting where individuals are appreciated and by that can better  appreciate themselves.