| Patients with severe and chronic mental illness in Hong Kong who are rehabilitated in a halfway house have many unmet needs that may affect their recovery. Recent research has identified 17 areas of need associated with this population. Among these needs, six were considered by the researcher as more immediate and worthy of further exploration. These needs were stress management, right of treatment, symptom management, behavior and impulse control, social and intimate relationships, and family integration. The objective of the study was to investigate the extent to which these needs were also perceived to be unmet by the residents through a qualitative, focus group study. It was hoped that the findings of the study might be incorporated into treatment for those in need of rehabilitation as a transition from hospitalization to more independent living.;Twenty-eight residents, former residents, and family members were screened to ensure safety before being invited to participate in one of five 100-minute semi-structured focus group meetings to discuss their needs. Findings showed that symptom management and behavior and impulse control needs were considered to be met by the medication, and patients recognized the need for medication compliance. Stress management, psychotherapy, and psychoeducation needs were unmet. Other needs spontaneously identified were the need to feel safe, to learn life-skills and self-maintenance skills, to contribute to society, to live in an hygienic environment, to receive psychotherapy and psychoeducation, and to live in a home-like environment. Psychoeducation appeared to be a strong need for family members who could potentially reduce time between onset of symptoms and treatment and to help facilitate recovery. Family members were sometimes perceived as sources of stress by patients and they also experienced a great deal of helplessness in the face of the challenges of mental illness. Psychoeducation of family members would help them to be more proactive in advocating for patients rights as well. The study concluded that focus group format was a useful way to collect qualitative data to understand needs of residents and that future research is needed to help patients attain greater quality and independence in their lives. |
