Cultivating independence : developing a guidebook to facilitate healthy eating competencies in adults with mental disorders

Abstract

A population-based study by the World Health Organisation (2020) found that approximately 120,000 of Malta’s population live with a mental disorder. At the same time, facilitating community living for people with a mental disorder is a priority for national policy. With this context in mind, the researcher decided to carry out a project, developing an educational tool based on perceived needs of such population group. In phase one, the researcher interviewed social workers working with adults of age between 30-60 years suffering from mental illnesses and seeking independent living. Information was collected from professional, well informed social workers on their particular service users’ awareness, understanding and practices regarding safe, nutritious food, as well as their functioning skills to achieve a healthy, independent living including a balanced diet. In the second phase of the study, the researcher aimed to draft an educational guidebook/cookbook based primarily on the typical service users’ needs to stimulate and facilitate healthy independent living whilst improving the psychological conditions of adults with mental illness by inspiring self-care. The transtheoretical model for behaviour change and self-efficacy theory inspired the approach used in this research.

Results from the initial exploration with social workers revealed that due to long term hospitalisation, mental condition symptoms or overly nurturing background, their service users typically lacked basic functioning skills such as food shopping and storage, knife handling and chopping, plus other food preparation skills. In order to help address such difficulties, the researcher-developed an original teaching/learning resource based primarily on education around food safety and hygiene, correct weighing and measuring, step-by-step cutting skills, preparing shopping lists and simple things to consider when grocery shopping. It also presented a weekly meal plan with basic healthy and easy recipes, tips for recipe adaptations, use of seasonal produce and storage, as well as motivational tasks for physical activity and goal setting. The resource was designed to be user-friendly, encouraging practice and holistic development for improved independent living competency.