As with most medical illnesses, risk for mental health problems depends both on things we can control, and things we cannot. Primary care doctors tell us that our risk for having a heart attack is increased if we are older, or if we have a family history of heart problems – but also if we are overweight, smoke…
The availability of peer support services has skyrocketed in recent years and is expected to continue to grow, in part from a focused and determined peer advocacy movement. While many peers and service users attest to the benefits of peer support services in enhancing recovery and wellness, the research literature is dominated by mixed reports about the effectiveness of peer support services. However, we argue this should not be taken as evidence that peer support services are not effective for several reasons which we outline below…
Persons with mental health challenges, such as psychosis, often experience difficulties with cognition including attention, memory, and learning. Cognition has not generally improved with medications or therapy, which suggests the need for novel strategies to improve these aspects of functioning…
It was previously thought that persons with mental health challenges, such as schizophrenia, experience less happiness relating to social interactions with others. However, current research has begun to question this claim…
Individuals with mental health challenges face barriers to participate fully within their communities, which may include recovery communities (e.g., recovery learning centers, clubhouses) as well as the larger community (e.g., work/school, church/temple, social clubs). There is need for researchers to better understand factors that facilitate and those that impede community participation…
