Introduction: Recovery for people with mental illness is multifaceted and complex. Meaningful activity engagement and community participation are fundamental to recovery. However, there are gaps in enabling opportunities for people with mental illness to participate in the community beyond mental health facilities.
Objectives: This presentation suggests an innovative approach to supporting recovery; it illustrates consumers experiences of participating in a psychosocial rehabilitation centre located on a university campus in Tehran, Iran.
Methods: We used a participatory photovoice method to understand consumers’ experiences of the psychosocial rehabilitation centre and university spaces. Upon obtaining ethics approval from Iran University of Medical Sciences, we recruited 7 consumers. Data collection included individual interviews, and a photovoice group. The photovoice group invited consumers to take photographs that represent their experiences; and to discuss the meaning of their experiences in a photovoice group. We analysed data using thematic analysis and constant comparative methods.
Results: Three main themes emerged from analysis of data: a) being in a university space; b) working with university staff and students; and c) learning through meaningful activities.
Conclusion: We suggest that the psychosocial rehabilitation centre that is located on a university campus brought a number of positive experiences of consumers, and supported their recovery. The centre offered opportunities for participating in spaces other than the mental health facility, encouraged positive relationships and trust, and enabled consumers to develop an identity as ‘learners’ through engaging in meaningful activities.