How do social firms contribute to recovery from mental illness? A qualitative study.

Background: A definition of recovery drawn from qualitative literature and the 'consumer/survivor' movement suggests that recovery should be seen as a way of developing satisfaction and purpose in life, whether or not symptoms of mental illness are present. A qualitative review suggested that meaningful activity may facilitate recovery by providing a sense of purpose in life. Social firms may be well placed to offer this activity due to their ethos of empowerment, their community integration and their similarity to 'recovery-oriented services'.

Objective: The aim of this study was to explore experiences of recovery from mental illness in the context of two emerging social firms.

Methods: A social constructionist version of grounded theory was used to develop a model of recovery through participation in the emerging social firms. Multiple coding, triangulation and respondent validation were used to increase the rigour of study findings.

Results: A model of recovery in the context of the emerging social firms was constructed. This was influenced by characteristics such as a flexible structure, a meaningful and diverse activity, an accepting social group and an inclusive leadership.

Conclusions: Social firms may provide an important model for 'recovery-oriented services'. Clinical, research and policy implications of findings are discussed.