Abstract
Support programs for illness management and recovery (IMR) from mental disorders have been reported to
promote recovery. This study aimed to clarify factors that had a long-term effect on promoting personal recovery
among IMR participants in psychiatric day care, with a focus on those with mental illness who lived in the study area
for more than 6 months after the end of IMR. Semi-structured interviews revealed the following: (1) Participants were unlikely to have worsening symptoms after IMR, their recovery goals were diversified, and the range of actions to achieve these goals expanded, promoting personal recovery over the long term; and (2) Skills learned in IMR that
were factors promoting personal recovery over the long term included “ setting and approaching goals ” and “ illness management, ” which they were able to make use of in daily life, and “ confidence in communication ” through interaction between participants. From these results, “ information-sharing with peers ” was speculated to change participants' way of thinking about their illness.
