Facilitating Personal Recovery in Individuals With Mental Illness: A Longitudinal Qualitative Interview Study of a Person-Centred Group Intervention

13/08/2026

AI Summary

Person-centred group intervention strengthened personal recovery across CHIME domains: connectedness, hope, identity, meaning and empowerment.
Peer group participation fostered belonging, trust and mutual understanding, increasing openness and confidence in relationships within and beyond services.
Participants reported greater self-understanding, self-acceptance and agency, yet emphasised need for ongoing professional support to sustain and integrate gains.

Int J Ment Health Nurs. 2026 Aug;35(4):e70329. doi: 10.1111/inm.70329.

ABSTRACT

This study explored how participation in a person-centred group intervention influenced the personal recovery process of individuals with mental illness at the end of the intervention and 3 months after. Using a qualitative longitudinal design, the study was conducted in an outpatient clinic at the Psychiatric Department of the North Denmark Region. Seventeen participants completed the 12-week intervention, which included two Discovery group sessions and 10 Guided Self-Determination method sessions. Participants were interviewed post-intervention and at three-month follow-up. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis by Braun and Clarke and the CHIME framework with a deductive approach. The intervention positively influenced participants’ personal recovery process across all CHIME categories. Being among peers fostered a sense of belonging, trust and mutual understanding leading to greater openness and confidence in relationships within and beyond mental health services. Participation in the intervention enhanced self-understanding, hope and optimism about the future, though some participants emphasized the need for ongoing support to sustain these gains. Engagement in the group promoted self-acceptance and openness about mental illness, increased awareness of factors affecting well-being and encouraged focus on opportunities and quality of life. Participants also reported greater self-reflection, self-esteem and responsibility, leading to a stronger sense of control over their lives. Overall, the person-centred group intervention supported participants’ personal recovery process by strengthening connectedness, hope, identity, meaning and empowerment. Continued professional support was viewed as essential to sustain and integrate these positive changes.

PMID:42591019 | DOI:10.1111/inm.70329

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