A conceptual model of how mental health clubhouses impact health and quality of life among individuals with serious mental illness.

Objective: People with serious mental illness (PWSMI) experience dramatic disparities in health, quality of life, and longevity. Mental health Clubhouses are a community-based treatment model that can positively affect health and quality of life among PWSMI. However, few studies investigate the within Clubhouses and what factors are related to the improvement of health and quality of life among members.

Can Photovoice foster the development of social support?

Photovoice is a participatory, photo-based research method that differs from conventional (non-participatory) research in that the process is meant to be empowering and beneficial. However, empirical research on the Photovoice process remains very limited. Based on feedback from participants who reported Photovoice helped them develop closer relationships, we examine whether engaging in Photovoice fosters social support.

Health Literacy, Social Networks, and Health Outcomes among Mental Health Clubhouse Members in Hawai'i.

Health literacy is the ability to obtain and utilize health information to make health-related decisions and to navigate health systems. Although health literacy has traditionally been understood as an individual-level construct, current research is revealing the impact that social networks can have on health literacy. To date, no studies have examined associations between health literacy and social networks among people with serious mental illness (PWSMI), who are at high risk of physical illness and premature mortality.