Project

The overall objective of this CURA2 study was to better understand the inter-relationships between poverty and social inclusion for psychiatric survivors. Social inclusion promotes the full participation of individuals and the social and economic benefits of society. For individuals experiencing both poverty and a psychiatric disorder, however, social inclusion is severely impacted. This CURA2 study investigated the interaction of poverty and social inclusion of these marginalized individuals. It built on the works of a previous CURA study, which consistently revealed that poverty has significant negative impacts on psychiatric survivors. Poverty among this group is a part of a large, interconnected system of individuals, community, and society. The causes and effects of poverty among psychiatric survivors and the development of community-based intiatives to facilitate social inclusion were investigated.

This CURA was a Participatory Action Research (PAR)study, where key stakeholders were active participants in the research process.

  • The prokect stakeholders included: psychiatric survivors, their family members, social service providers, employers and policy decision-makers.
  • The CURA will consist of three components: research, training and community capacity development.
  • Psychiatric survivors participated as co-directors, committee members and research participants.
  • Community members participated as full partners throughout the research process, from problem identification to co-authorship of final reports, publications and presentations.

This CURA helped determine the most effective use of resources to promote social inclusion.

A mixed-methods design was used and included annual survey interviews, individual and group interviews, and analysis of private and public policies. Under graduate and graduate students from multiple disciplines were also trained and given the opportunity to participate in research and pratice placements. They also participated in the development of a graduate level course focused on poverty and social inclusion. Community members were also considered full partners in this study. The lead community agency, Can-Voice, was a psychiatric survivor group.

Outcomes:

  • 84.4% of participants who completed their first 3 interviews reported that stigma affected their lives
  • Participants' choice of words directly reflected their experience of stigma, such as "tax money receivers"
  • People reported that stigma stemmed from multiple factors - some were directly related to mental illness and some were not
  • Social inclusion status was monitored throughout the study:
    • 32.5% had decreased social inclusion status changes
    • 23.9% had increased social inclusion status changes
    • 43.7% had unchanged social inclusion status changes
  • Those with increased social inclusion had had higher income and higher social support
  • Those with decreased social inclusion status were getting older, living with family or unrelated persons, has schizoprhrenia diagnosis, and a higher number of psychiatric hospitalizations
  • Four themes emerged from this study:
    • Poverty - "You just try to survive"
    • Stigma - "People treat you like trash"
    • Belonging - "You feel like you don't belong"
    • Shared Concern and Advocacy
  • This study also found that social enterprises were very effective in addressing social inclusion and poverty
  • Most participants in this study reported being fairly or extremely involved - in all 3 years, 100% of Partners reported being comfortable with research and now using research on a regular basis; 90% reported they know how to use the research findings