Initiating and Maintaining a Lifestyle Program Directed at Persons Living with Severe Mental Illness in a Municipality Care Setting

Lifestyle programs are effective in improving the health of persons living with severe mental illness. However, the implementation of these programs and making them a sustainable part of daily care remain challenging. This qualitative descriptive study aimed to describe how staff worked with and experienced a lifestyle program in a municipality mental health care setting over time. The program intended to support persons living with severe mental illness to overcome health challenges. Data was collected at three time points spanning 7 years. The staff motivated the participants with SMI with severe mental illness to take part in the program, prepared them, and gave them individualized lifestyle support. A key factor of the program's implementation was the staff's interest and engagement in lifestyle questions. According to the staff it was apparent that small efforts such as running the present program could give synergic health effects such as improved mental- and social health. This study shows that it is feasible to conduct this lifestyle program in ordinary care without considerable resources. However, support from management is crucial, as well as the development of guidelines and routines of the work with lifestyle questions.