Community Inclusion & Belonging
Inclusion in community life positively impacts health and wellbeing, but individuals with serious mental illnesses often experience isolation and lack opportunities to meaningfully engage in their communities.
Early Intervention for Psychosis
In the United States, 300,000 young people will experience their first episode of psychosis (FEP) each year. The long-term impact of psychosis is substantial: those who go on to develop schizophrenia have a life expectancy that is reduced by 10 years.
Housing & Homelessness
Adults with SMI who also experience homelessness (around 25%) are at increased risk of poor mental health and treatment outcomes compared to those who are stably housed. Housing instability and homelessness also lead to more severe psychiatric symptoms, poorer physical health, and an increased risk of criminal legal system involvement.
Mental Health Disparities
Mental health diagnosis, treatment, and access to services differ across socioeconomic status, race, and geographic location. Ethnoracial minorities are more likely to experience psychosis and have a more severe onset of symptoms, while residing in underserved and underprivileged communities.
Utility of Public Spaces
Public spaces (i.e., parks, libraries) are accessible to all, and have the potential to foster a sense of community by enabling chance encounters. Many public spaces, and some privately owned spaces (i.e., cafes, shopping malls) also constitute “third places”, defined as informal gathering places that exist outside the home or workplace that facilitate proximity and relationship building between community members.
