Green Care: A Conceptual Framework - Frisk i naturen
Green Care: A Conceptual Framework - Frisk i naturen
Green Care: A Conceptual Framework - Frisk i naturen
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also shows that involvement in work activities gives people who have<br />
suffered mental illness or psychiatric problems a feeling of recovery (see,<br />
for example, Michon, 2006).<br />
Employment for individuals with mental illness gives opportunities for<br />
them to participate in society as active citizens (Boardman, 2003). Work<br />
and employment are very important in the context of mental health<br />
problems, because the overwhelming majority of people with such<br />
problems want to be engaged in some kind of meaningful activity that<br />
uses their skills and meets the expectations of others (Grove, 1999; Secker<br />
et al, 2001; Boardman, 2003). Work is crucial for people with mental<br />
health problems, as they are especially sensitive to the negative effects of<br />
unemployment and the associated loss of structure, purpose and identity<br />
(Bennett, 1970). Already socially excluded as a result of their mental health<br />
problems, their exclusion is aggravated by unemployment.<br />
Bennett (1970), Jahoda (1982), Warr (1987), Shephard (1989) and<br />
Boardman (2003) list some of the social-psychological functions of work<br />
for people with or without mental health problems:<br />
■■<br />
■■<br />
■■<br />
■■<br />
■■<br />
■■<br />
Work structures the time usefully; it provides contrast in time<br />
experience and gives meaning to things such as spare time and<br />
holidays.<br />
Work gives a social identity and status; social contacts and support.<br />
It gives an opportunity to develop skills and it prevents the development<br />
of secondary disabilities.<br />
It shows that people need each other, that people have a collective goal<br />
and that there is mutual dependency.<br />
It forces people to activity; it provides a sense of personal achievement,<br />
gives the opportunity to become physically tired and results in a better<br />
physical condition,<br />
Work is something you do for other people. By contrast, in most leisure<br />
activities you can please yourself.<br />
It is not true that every work situation has these positive functions. On the<br />
contrary, each work situation has characteristics that offer opportunities or<br />
limitations (Warr, 1987). According to Warr’s ‘vitamin model’, a deficiency<br />
78 <strong>Green</strong> <strong>Care</strong>: A <strong>Conceptual</strong> <strong>Framework</strong>