Community mental health program
The Psychology Department in partnership with OT conducted a retrospective audit of quantitative and qualitative data from four eight-week social skills groups run between 2011 and 2013 in the Community Mental Health program.
Pre- and post-group measures assessing self-rated friendships and confidence with social skills and clinician-rated social functioning were analysed as well as qualitative feedback from the group participants. Analysis revealed significant improvements in participants’ confidence with their social skills with a trend for improvement in self-rated engagement in friendships and observed social skills.
The results indicate that the social skills groups with a focus on friendships, roleplay and conversation games to practice new skills were an effective way to build social confidence among participants.
The program added to the recovery-centred practice of the Community Mental Health service, while adding to the diversity of clinician skills for psychosocial-oriented practice.