Exploratory Study on the Effects of Participation in a Recovery Mall at State-Operated Behavioral Healthcare Inpatient Hospital

We proposed an exploratory study on the effects of participation in a treatment mall. We interviewed currently enrolled patients at the Recovery Mall at a state-operated behavioral healthcare hospital in Ohio. Treatment malls are an increasingly popular approach to rehabilitation of inpatient populations (Webster & Harmon, 2006). The popularity of the approach is based on the theory that empowerment of the consumer to participate in decision-making will aid in restoring functioning and return to community living (Rahe, 2001). Treatment malls offer multiple simultaneous therapeutic activities, allow the involvement of consumers in making choices about their treatment plans and their daily living activities, and provide a more normalized environment. Patients have to leave their home units to seek out opportunities to participate in community life activities such as going to the bank, hair salon or chapel; socializing; and making their own food choices.