Project Connect: A community intervention for individuals with mental illness

ABSTRACT

Connection to community and a sense of belonging have been recognized as critical components of mental health recovery. However, few interventions that stress the importance of making community connections based on self-determination and personal interests have been developed. This article describes Project Connect, an innovative intervention through which people with mental illness can access support to make community connections on their own terms. It provides background on the design and implementation of the project, its connection to community organizing approaches, and initial findings.

KEYWORDS:

• community connection
• community integration
• mental health
• self-determination