The Role of Intentional Communities to Support Recovery from Mental Illness

Establishing “community” decreases isolation and social stigma and supports both physical and mental well-being (Ralph & Corrigan, 2005) for many individuals marginalized by the consequences of a mental illness. This chapter will focus on the role of intentional recovery communities in supporting wellness among people living with mental illness. The chapter will introduce the reader to the concept of recovery from mental illness, a broad variety of approaches designed to facilitate and support recovery as well as recovery oriented environments such as clubhouse programs, peer-run drop-in centers, and peer support groups (e.g., Schizophrenia Anonymous, 12-Step). For example, The FRIENDS program, which is based on the philosophy that social networks evolve from building a strong caring intentional community, has been found to increase and maintain social networks over time to impact overall functioning (Wilson, Flanagan, & Rynders, 1999). Thus, the central values of many peerbased recovery communities recognize that mental health well-being has a direct relationship to the involvement with others. Therapeutic communities constitute an important aspect in the treatment of mental illness and substance abuse disorders. These ‘bottom-up’ approaches have a long history as adjunctive services to psychotherapy and psychiatry and provide a valuable, if not essential, component for many seeking recovery from mental illness and substance related disorders. Mental illness can have devastating effects on an individual’s family and social relationships. Individuals with chronic or persistent mental illness can experience the loss of support from friends, family or partners, resulting in small or restricted social support resources. Small social support networks have been associated with mental health concerns such as isolation (Brewer, Gadsden, & Scrimshaw, 1994), and an increased likelihood of depression (Lin, Ye, & Ensel, 1999). Poor or inadequate social support networks have also been associated with increased mortality rates among the general population (Berkman, 1995; Berkman, Glass, Brissette, & Seeman, 2000; House, Landis, & Umberson, 1988). One of the earliest research studies on social networks and mental health began with Emile Durkheim’s empirical examination on the effects of the lack of social network ties and community integration and the rate of suicide in metropolitan areas (see Durkheim, 2001). Between 1969 and 1985, the interest in social network and mental health research proliferated with over 1,300 published research articles (Biegel, McCardel, & Mendelson, 1985). Social support networks among people living with severe or chronic mental illness such as schizophrenia, are typically small, and predominately consist of family members or mental