Theory, Program Structure and Outcomes Summary of the Balancing Everyday Life ^TM (BEL) Program for People with Mental Illness

The intervention Balancing Everyday Life™ (BEL) helps service users achieve a balance among everyday activities and enhance personal recovery. BEL builds upon research for people with mental illness and on evidence from earlier activity-based interventions. This methodological paper presents the theoretical basis for BEL, which rests on five pillars of theories and models. Further, the BEL topics are presented—the person and their activity history, current occupational identity, and opportunity to experience meaning and balance in everyday life. Program delivery methods are presented along with summaries of a randomized controlled trial and qualitative studies evaluating the BEL intervention.