The Community Group Network in Mental Health: A Model for Social Support and Community Integration

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Abstract
The article reviews the literature about the social networks of people with long-term mental illness. Such people are likely to have smaller social networks, and a larger social network is associated with a more favourable prognosis. Although no causative link has been clearly established. It is concluded that professional intervention in this area is justified on mental health grounds. The Community Group Network model is presented as a way of facilitating social networks which has many advantages over other day care approaches. A survey of such a network in the authors' locality shows some success in engaging long-term clients using this approach. Further research is required to assess the impact of the model on mental health.