The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #47528

Elizabeth Lam, BA¹, A. Michael Wylie, PhD², James E. Hall, PhD¹, Annette Crisanti, PhD¹, Keith Claypoole, PhD¹, and Philippe Gross, PhD¹. (1) Department of Psychology, University of Hawaii, 2430 Campus Road, Gartley 210, Honolulu, HI 96744, 808-236-8423, ejlam@amhd.health.state.hi.us, (2) Adult Mental Health Division, Department of Health, 1250 Punchbowl St. #256, Honolulu, HI 96813

Recent reviews regarding housing and mental illness (e.g. Newman, 2001) have commented on the lack of a systematic body of knowledge about this critical area in spite of nearly 40 years of deinstitutionalization and the long-standing focus on homelessness. Appropriate and sustainable shelter is a basic public health requirement for effective treatment of the population with severe and persistent mental illness (SPMI). However, the enhancement of treatment collaboration that comes with encouragement of consumer choice through respect for specific preferences regarding housing remains unrealized. The purpose of the present study is to increase the likelihood of consumer satisfaction with housing by obtaining an accurate description of the self-perceived housing needs of SPMI individuals. Through focus groups, consumers served by the Adult Mental Health Division (AMHD) are being asked to describe their criteria for satisfactory housing. To account for between island diversity, focus groups are being conducted on each of the major islands. In the focus groups individuals are first asked to list their housing needs, then they participate in a guided discussion to share their needs with other group members, and finally list their revised needs. These lists are being analyzed by frequency and then categorized to obtain more accurate perceptions of consumers' preferences regarding housing, regardless of housing classification. Responses will be compared across islands. The results of this study will guide the development of questions for a larger and more comprehensive study describing and assessing the general housing situation for the SPMI population in Hawai’i.

Learning Objectives:

1. At the conclusion of this session, the participant will be able to
   2. List five primary housing preferences of severely and persistently mentally ill individuals.
   4. Be able to state the advantages of the focus group method for acquiring consumer preferences.
   6. Articulate the importance of consumer choice in recovery of SPMI individuals.

Keywords: Sever Mental Illness, Housing

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.