Social Reintegration
I had the privilege of being on the "keep smiling” podcast this past week. For those of you who know her, no introduction is needed for Lara Rebecca -she is the brains behind the Keep Smiling Collective. This is her passion project, a space that she has created after her own mental health journey and difficulties. It's a space that is educational, informative and inspirational and uses the means of storytelling to bring positive promotion for mental health awareness. I found her podcasts fantastic and really helpful in times of need. I would recommend it to anybody going through any mental health challenge. I have put the link below to her website and podcast in case some of you may feel like you want to have a look:
https://keepsmilingcollective.co.uk/about/
In our episode we discussed the idea of social reintegration post mental health breakdown or challenge. The idea here is that so often we can speak about mental health challenges and can help people in the moment while they're experiencing mental health difficulties but we often forget about how tricky it can be to reintegrate ourselves back into society once we've started recovering from these challenges. The reason I wanted to speak about this is because quite a few of my current clients are really struggling with this and I wanted to make sure that everybody felt heard and understood and that they knew they were not alone in this experience. Our episode comes out in two weeks time and I really hope that it is inspiring, informative and you enjoy hearing it as much as I enjoyed making it. I also speak about my own journey with mental health issues and hope that by disclosing this it will help you realize that even therapists can have their own life struggles.
So why do occupational therapists find social participation so important in their therapeutic approach?
Occupational therapists work on social participation because it is essential for overall health and well-being. Social engagement enhances quality of life, mental health, and independence, while fulfilling important social roles and building necessary skills. Think about it, in your day-to-day life what roles and responsibilities do you have? For myself, I'm an employee, I'm a friend, I'm a partner, and an occupational therapist. These roles and responsibilities give my life meaning and purpose. It also creates a community and a place of support where I can lean on. By addressing barriers, promoting community integration, and supporting social interactions, OTs help individuals achieve a more balanced and fulfilling life, which is central to holistic health care.
A mental health breakdown, often referred to as a nervous breakdown, is a term used to describe a period of intense mental distress. During this time, a person is unable to function in their daily life due to overwhelming stress or mental health issues. While the specific symptoms and experiences can vary widely among individuals, some common signs and manifestations of a breakdown include: depression, anxiety, mood swings, decrease cognitive function and ability to focus, isolation from friends and family and the inability to live your life so it's full capacity the way you intended. So you can see how a mental health breakdown can really affect and disrupt how you experience and integrate yourself in your local community surrounded by friends or family.
Social reintegration post acute mental health issues refers to the process by which individuals recovering from severe mental health conditions re-establish their roles and functions in society. This involves helping them regain a sense of normalcy, productivity, and social connectedness. I also find that the more support measures and more successful you are at social reintegration, the more likely you are to be successful in your recovery plan. The process can include various supportive measures aimed at addressing the social, occupational, and psychological needs of individuals as they transition back into everyday life.
Key components of social reintegration typically include:
Healthcare and Ongoing Therapy: Continued mental health care, including medication management and therapy, to ensure stability and address any lingering or recurring symptoms.
Social Support Networks: Rebuilding or establishing supportive relationships with family, friends, and community members to combat isolation and provide emotional support.
Employment and Vocational Training: Assisting individuals in finding suitable employment or vocational training programs to foster financial independence and provide a sense of purpose and routine.
Education and Skills Development: Offering educational opportunities and skills training to enhance employability and personal growth.
Housing Stability: Ensuring access to safe and stable housing, which is crucial for maintaining mental health and facilitating recovery.
Community Engagement: Encouraging participation in community activities and groups to foster a sense of belonging and engagement.
Legal and Financial Assistance: Providing assistance with legal and financial matters that may have been affected by their mental health issues, such as debt management or navigating disability benefits.
Peer Support: Utilizing peer support groups where individuals can share experiences and strategies for coping, fostering a sense of solidarity and mutual understanding.
The goal of social reintegration is to enable individuals to live fulfilling, independent lives and to reduce the risk of relapse or readmission to acute care settings. This holistic approach addresses the multifaceted challenges faced by individuals recovering from acute mental health issues and aims to support them in achieving a sustainable recovery. Try one of the above eight components to see how you can re-integrate yourself effectively if you are going through a challenging time. This could look like joining a local arts and craft club or a local sports teams such as netball. On the keep smiling podcast, one of Lara's more recent episodes was a policeman speaking about how he had made a network whereby middle-aged men came to a golf course and could speak to each other about whatever they so chose. By creating a community where people can come and enjoy themselves as well as speak about the things that perhaps are quite tricky and difficult to discuss, he was creating an environment that was very supportive and ensured that people could build lasting relationships and support networks. It starts with once more step.
As always, please do reach arts if you ever feel like you need to speak to me and let me know if these blogs are helpful in your recovery.
