This paper uses secondary analysis to understand how COVID-19 shaped people’s experiences with psychosocial support services in Australia. Data are drawn from questionnaires (n = 66) and semi-structured interviews (n = 62), conducted for a national service evaluation, with 121 people living with enduring mental health conditions and using psychosocial support services. Data relating to COVID-19 were inductively coded and analysed using constant comparative analysis. Most people’s experiences included tele-support. While some people described minimal disruption to their support, many reported reduced engagement. People’s wellbeing and engagement were influenced by: their location, living situation and pre-COVID lifestyles; physical health conditions; access to, comfort with, and support worker facilitation of technology; pre-COVID relationships with support workers; and communication from the organisation. The findings can help services prepare for future pandemics, adjust their services for a ‘COVID-normal’ world, and consider how learnings from COVID-19 could be incorporated into a flexible suite of service delivery options.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, mental health, Psychosocial support program, Lived experience perspectives, Community mental health support, 【초록키워드】 Health, Pandemics, questionnaire, Analysis, Support, help, National, while, MOST, physical, flexible, described, reported, conducted, analysed, reduced, coded, adjust, mental health condition, 【제목키워드】 experience, Psychosocial, condition, Enduring,