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Research Article| Volume 12, ISSUE 5, P282-287, October 1998

Purposeful activity for people with enduring mental health problems: Reflections from a case study

  • Damian Mitchell
    Correspondence
    Address reprint requests to Damian Mitchell, R.G.N., R.M.N., B.A.(Hons), M.A., Lecturer in Mental Health Nursing, Education Centre, Lincoln County Hospital, Greetwell Road, Lincoln, LN2 5QY, UK.
    Affiliations
    School of Nursing, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
    Search for articles by this author
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      The desire to work is deeply rooted in the human psyche and involves both intrinsic and extrinsic factors. If this is indeed the case, then this form of human activity should be considered to be an important element of our lives and therefore worthy of intervention when circumstances restrict an individual's engagement with it. To investigate the therapeutic nature of work for people with enduring mental health problems, the author conducted a pilot case study of a work rehabilitation scheme in the United Kingdom. The main theme to emerge from the study was that of purposeful activity.
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