Staying well. Factors contributing to successful community adaptation

1. Friends were rated as the most important factor in assisting former psychiatric patients to avoid rehospitalization. 2. When respondents were asked to comment on rehospitalization in their own words, the most frequent responses dealt with factors related to keeping active, developing a healthy lifestyle and positive self-image, and accepting their illness. 3. Self-help groups, community health workers, and community nurses were rated as the least beneficial in preventing rehospitalization.