▪Study Purpose: For the people with mental disorders who were using mental health service in the Seoul mental health agencies, this study identified the concept of the independent living considered by the corresponding people and the perception and ...
▪Study Purpose: For the people with mental disorders who were using mental health service in the Seoul mental health agencies, this study identified the concept of the independent living considered by the corresponding people and the perception and need for leading an independent living in the community. As a quantitative study conducted through a questionnaire survey, the purpose of this study was to establish a independent life support service system for the mentally handicapped in seoul helping them lead an independent life based on their needs in the future and to provide a policy basis.
▪Study Method: A questionnaire survey was done for the 19-year-old or older people with mental disorders, who were using mental health agencies in Seoul, from September 21 (Mon.) to December 2(Wen.), 2020. The total 20 agencies in the 5 regions were purposively sampled to prevent the bias of the survey subjects in each region of Seoul, and the final data on the 287 people of the 5 agency types were analyzed. SPSS 18.0 was used to do a frequency analysis for checking general subject characteristics and major variables and a priority analysis for checking the meaning of an independent living.
▪Study Results: It was identified that the study participant perceived the preparation of an independent residential space and the independence of an economic situation as the greatest factor of an independent living and expected the recovery of everyday life by living an independent life for itself through an independent living. It was identified that a supporting service was necessary for the people with mental disorders to lead independent livings more stably and that the plan and implementation of the service reflecting the sociodemographic characteristics, need, and necessity of an individual were to be accompanied essentially.
▪Conclusion: The following policy implications and proposals were derived on the basis of study results. First, in order to actually lead an independent living, a sufficient and independent residential space needs, with the economic and living supports required accordingly. Second, the role of the mental health agency of a community is very important, and the function of each agency needs to be strengthened. Third, the various services reflecting the individual need of the people with mental disorders should be developed, and the competence of a service provider should be also accompanied. It is expected that they will become the basis for preparing the service system and policy foundation for supporting an independent living focusing on the need and option of the people with mental disorders accordingly.
▪Keywords: People with mental disorders, community, independence, independent living, supporting service