Leisure as a context for active living, recovery, health and life quality for persons with mental illness in a global context.

Globally, the mental health system is being transformed into a strengths-based, recovery-oriented system of care, to which the concept of active living is central. Based on an integrative review of the literature, this paper presents a heuristic conceptual framework of the potential contribution that enjoyable and meaningful leisure experiences can have in active living, recovery, health and life quality among persons with mental illness. This framework is holistic and reflects the humanistic approach to mental illness endorsed by the United Nations and the World Health Organization.

Healthcare utilization among women with physical disabilities.

Background: Current published data indicate barriers and deficiencies in healthcare for women with physical disabilities. Yet, information regarding the influence of secondary conditions and demographic variables on the actual utilization of general health and rehabilitative services is limited. This research examined this issue.