Exploring the influence of social support on community participation for adults with serious mental illnesses

As researchers, advocates, and policymakers continue to emphasize community participation for people with serious mental illness (SMI), it is important to understand and strengthen the natural ties that these individuals have in the community. This study investigated how the social support provided by natural supports (i.e., relationships that occur in everyday life, such as friends, family members, co-workers, and neighbors) relates to community participation. It was hypothesized that natural supports would be positively associated with community participation. Forty-eight participants completed a survey, and 15 of these participants completed a semi-structured qualitative interview. Family, friends, and neighbors were the most frequently identified supports. However, spouses, religious leaders, and pets provided higher levels of emotional support. Average total support was significantly related to community participation. Themes included families spending time together, mental health challenges as barriers to participation, and the desire to do activities with others. These findings provide insight about the role of natural supports in promoting community participation and inform interventions aimed at increasing social support and community participation.