ABSTRACT

Fundamental to overcoming the inertia and other issues impacting activity and participation patterns of those with serious mental illness is the active support directed to rapidly engage people in actually ‘doing’. In this chapter, practices are focused on supporting the introduction of ‘activity experiments’ which are personally meaningful, manageable with limited support and resources, sensitive to the context, and provide opportunities to experience at least some health and well-being benefits. Even small efforts in relation to activity and participation can pose challenges and the approach calls for the proactive identification of possible issues. This chapter is organized into the following sections: the potential of making rapid changes in activity and participation patterns; considerations for enabling rapid changes in activity and participation; enabling the selection of activities and participation; supporting ongoing engagement in activities and participation; and key competencies.