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Cited by 207Mental Health and Patient InvolvementPsychiatric care and mental health servicesMental Health Treatment and Access

A review of social participation interventions for people with mental health problems

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Webber, Martin, Fendt-Newlin, Meredith·2017·Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology
DOI 10.1007/s00127-017-1372-2PMC PMC5380688
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Abstract

PURPOSE: The association between social networks and improved mental and physical health is well documented in the literature, but mental health services rarely routinely intervene to improve an individual's social network. This review summarises social participation intervention models to illustrate different approaches which practitioners use, highlight gaps in the evidence base and suggest future directions for research. METHODS: A systematic search of electronic databases was conducted, and social participation interventions were grouped into six categories using a modified narrative synthesis approach. RESULTS: Nineteen interventions from 14 countries were identified, six of which were evaluated using a randomised controlled trial. They were grouped together as: individual social skills training; group skills training; supported community engagement; group-based community activities; employment interventions; and peer support interventions. Social network gains appear strongest for supported community engagement interventions, but overall, evidence was limited. CONCLUSIONS: The small number of heterogeneous studies included in this review, which were not quality appraised, tentatively suggests that social participation interventions may increase individuals' social networks. Future research needs to use experimental designs with sufficient samples and follow-up periods longer than 12 months to enable us to make firm recommendations for mental health policy or practice.

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  • Such group-based models have been successfully used to deliver interventions with young people with mental illness and those in foster care.

    “Such group-based models have been successfully used to deliver interventions with young people with mental illness (Munson et al., 2016; Webber & Felt-Newlin, 2017) and those in foster care (Geenen et al., 2015; Phillips et al., 2015).”

    From Intervention development to improve foster youth mental health by targeting coping self-efficacy and help-seeking (2023) · cites this paper as Webber & Felt-Newlin, 2017

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Authors
Webber, M., & Fendt-Newlin, M.
Affiliations
University of York (GB)
Corresponding author
Webber, Martin
ORCID
Webber, Martin
Venue
Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2017-03-12
Volume
52
Issue
4
Pages
369-380
ISSN
  • 0933-7954 (ISSN-L)
  • 1433-9285
DOI
10.1007/s00127-017-1372-2
PMC
PMC5380688
OpenAlex
W2593871366
Cited by
207
References
7
Citations by year
2026: 14 · 2025: 28 · 2024: 27 · 2023: 25 · 2022: 30 · 2021: 33 · 2020: 18 · 2019: 16 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 6
FWCI
2.41
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • White Rose Research Online (University of Leeds, The University of Sheffield, University of York) (acceptedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Mental Health and Patient Involvement
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychiatric care and mental health services
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health Treatment and Access
Keywords
mental illness, social networks, social skills training, peer support, employment interventions, mental health services, evidence gaps
MeSH terms
Mental Disorders, Humans, Mental Health Services, Social Participation

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