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- Recovery assessment scale : Testing validity with portuguese community-based mental health organization usersPublication . Monteiro, Maria Fátima Jorge; Ornelas, JoséThe aim of the present study was to develop the Portuguese version of the Recovery Assessment Scale (RAS-P), and to assess the validity of the findings using the revised test, with 213 users from 5 nonprofit community-based mental health organizations. Participants in the assessment completed a self-reported survey investigating their sense of personal recovery, personal empowerment, capabilities achievement, psychiatric symptoms’ frequency, and demographic data. Evidence from exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses using the 24-item version of the test, validated a 4-factor structure for the RAS-P model based on the dimensions of Personal Goals and Hope, Managing Help Needs, Supportive Interpersonal Relationships, and Life Beyond Symptoms, consistent with components of the recovery process. Convergent and discriminant validity was also achieved using bivariate correlation coefficients among the 4 subscales’ scores, between the overall scale and the subscales, and in relation to external variables. Findings allowed for the interpretation that the RAS-P is measuring a particular psychological construct, which is different from symptoms of the mental illness. A hypothesized significant association with personal empowerment and with capabilities achievement was demonstrated. Positive association was also found between participants’ use of recovery-oriented services such as independent housing or supported employment programs. The RAS-P scores also revealed excellent internal consistency for the overall scale ( .90), and good consistency for the subscales ( .75), which attest to its precision in measurement. In conclusion, the study proved the RAS-P a reliable and useful tool in the context of the community mental health practice.
- The role of community integration and empowerment for the transformative change in community mental healthPublication . Ornelas, José; Monteiro, Maria Fátima Jorge; Duarte, Teresa; Moniz, Maria João VargasThe present article first presents a critique about the current status of the community mental health (CMH) field. Second, based on theoretical and empirical literature, it presents a perspective inspired by the inception of community psychology, namely the empowerment and community integration principles to offer a challenging framework to inspire reforms in the CMH field. The article also discusses two promising CMH practices, supported employment and independent housing with support, determinant for the transformation of life conditions for people experiencing mental illness while promoting people’s empowerment and integration in the community. The authors argue that CMH programs and practices focused on integration together with self-representation movements, organisations, or networks aligned with the community psychology acting principles have the potential to inform a renovated partnership within CMH stakeholders and bring about sustainable change focused on the active citizenship for people who experience mental illness.
- “What’s wrong with the seed?” A comparative examination of an empowering community-centered approach to recovery in community mental healthPublication . Monteiro, Maria Fátima Jorge; Ornelas, JoséThis cross-sectional group comparison aimed to examine whether personal empowerment, recovery and community integration were associated with the individual's participation in an empowering community-centered model of intervention. Ninety-three participants from an empowering community-centered community mental health organization were compared with a matched group of individuals from standard interventions of four equivalent organizations. Results showed that participants taking advantage of the empowering community-centered approach were more involved in high recovery-oriented programs; and attained higher levels of personal goals and hope, empowerment, and of community integration. An involvement in high recovery-oriented programs (supported employment or independent housing) revealed improved outcomes for the individual. In conclusion, the findings suggested a transformative impact of the empowering community-centered model both at the individual and the program level by altering the resource accessibility and social conditions for people who experience mental illness. The implications of findings for transforming community mental health practice are discussed in detail.