Tottori J. Clin. Res. 8(2), 161-165, 2017

Team activity utilizing a strength model that focuses on the thoughts and dreamsof patients with mental illness
Junko Shimoda*
The 6th Ward, Department of NHO Tottori Medical Center*Correspondence: 876 Mistu, Tottori, 689-0203
Abstract
Of approximately 310,000 individuals hospitalized in psychiatric wards throughout Japan, 68 % are patients who
have been hospitalized for 1 year or more and have difficulty with discharge, and thus support projects for the transition
to the community for mentally ill people, and to settle into the community are underway nationwide. As support forpsychiatric inpatients who have difficulty with discharge to help them be independent and not be discouraged, nursing
care that focuses on the strengths of chronic psychiatric inpatients will support the ‘abilities that the inpatients have’,
expand their activities of daily life, and promote the transition to the community. The wards primarily provides inpatientcare for patients in the chronic phase of mental illness, and the outcomes of activities undertaken in the year 20XX
focusing on ‘strengths’ were reported. Tottori J. Clin. Res. 8(2), 161-165, 2017
Keywords: psychiatry, transition to community care for mentally ill people, strength, psychiatric nursing	 

I. Introduction
Of approximately 310,000 individuals hospitalizedin psychiatric wards throughout Japan, more than
211,000 individuals (68 %) are patients who have been
hospitalized for 1 year or more and who have difficultywith discharge, thus dealing with elderly long-term
psychiatric inpatients has become a major problem
nationwide.
Support projects for the transition to the community
for mentally ill people, and to settle into the community
are underway nationwide including at the psychiatricwards of study hospital, and the number of psychiatricwards has reduced from 5 to 3 wards. At our ward, there
are many long-term inpatients with symptoms such as
suicidal ideation, impulsive behavior, and drug refusal,
which lead to reduced ability for independent life andreduced motivation for discharge, and therefore makes
discharge difficult. As part of the role of psychiatricnurses, we thought that we would like to attempt support
that would help inpatients to be independent and notdiscouraged.
In the year 20XX, activities were undertaken withthe team goal of ‘thinking from a different angle byidentifying patient strengths to help changes of chronic
psychiatric inpatient (reducing isolation, increasing open
observation, improving self-care, and reducingrepresentation)’, and with the endpoint of ‘enabling

patients do at least one thing that they couldn’t, while
incorporating their hopes’. Nursing care that focuses on
the strengths of chronic psychiatric inpatients will
support the ‘abilities that the inpatients have’, expandtheir activities of daily life, and promote the transition tothe community. We report these activities of 20XX.
II. Outline of study institution
Study institution, which was a hospital thatprimarily provides medical care for chronic mental
illness, constitutes of psychiatric wards, including theMedical Treatment and Supervision Act, and according
to the data of 20XX – 1, there were 469 sickbeds, dailymean of 390.2 inpatients, mean hospital stay of 138.9
days, and 333 nurses.
The study ward provides medical care for chronic
psychiatric patients, and for the year of 20XX – 1, there
were 52 sickbeds, daily mean of 37.6 inpatients, andmean hospital stay of 784 days, with a hospitalization
period < 1 year in 7 patients, and ≥ 1 year in 30 patients.
There were 13 long-term inpatients of 10 years or more,accounting for 37 % of the study ward inpatients. The
nursing system was 15:1, and there were 18 nurses.
The nursing staff of A team at the study ward
focused on ‘strengths’ in the present study. For the yearof 20XX – 1, the A team had 16 isolation rooms(including 5 protection rooms, and 3 outlet rooms), and