Abstract
Introduction
More comprehensive understanding, from the experiences and multiple perspectives of the clients, families, and staff, about the community life of former clients of the integrated community mental health service (ICMHS) is scarce.
Aim
To explore the community life experiences of people after their discharge from the ICMHS.
Method
A qualitative approach with an interpretative phenomenological analysis was utilized for this study. Data were collected through individual semi‐structured interviews of 37 participants, including people discharged from an Integrated Community Centre of Mental Wellness, their family members, and staff members.
Results
Six themes emerged from the analysis: ‘timely support’, ‘family presence’, ‘better family relationships’, ‘expanding social networks’, ‘letting go’, and ‘better self‐efficacy and self‐care’, under the main theme of ‘walking with the illness and life’.
Discussion
Over and after the ICHMS, with timely support and family presence, there was a positive trend in the experiences of clients in expanding social networks, having better family relationships, letting go of thinking too much and being more able to relax, and improving self‐efficacy and self‐caring.
Implications for practice
The study provides a more comprehensive understanding of the experiences of clients, family, and staff about the community life of people post‐ICMHS, providing insights and clearer directions for research and practice development.