“Hope springs eternal”; “Every cloud has a silver lining”; “Hope for the best”; “Look on the bright side”; “The darkest hours are just before dawn”; “There is light at the end of the tunnel”; “Hope is passion for what is possible”.
Literature is filled with messages about hope. This newsletter is devoted to hope, hopefulness, and the therapeutic benefit of hope. Yes, a sense of hopefulness helps people who are suffering from a mental illness. Even though hopelessness is a hallmark of some mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia and depression, many people with serious mental conditions retain a small glimmer of hope deep inside. It is this tiny, glimmering light that contains the potential to create a burning fire of hope and healing. When treatment is designed to support human potential and encourages a sense of hope, even people who have reached the very depths of despair can recover and create a sense of their future.
What is Hope?
Hope is defined by Kylma et al. (2006) as “a state of being, characterized by an anticipation of a continued good state or something good in the future” (p. 661). Hope is personal and unique to the individual, and can change over time. It is a sense of confidence mixed with uncertainty. Hope is multi-faceted, encompassing a sense of self and a relationship with others.
Hope springs from meaningful relationships, even a relationship with a pet. A perceived sense of control has been correlated with feelings of hope. Likewise, if someone feels they have no control, they are much less likely to persevere, take responsibility, and develop new ways to cope. It is easy to see the connection between hope and motivation.
Hope Lives at Rose Hill Center
Hope is a healing force that promotes well-being and is rooted in meaningful relationships and activities. Rose Hill’s case managers develop a therapeutic relationship with each resident as they help to guide them through treatment. Empathy, unconditional positive regard, respect, commitment, and validation are qualities that radiate from Rose Hill’s clinical team.
These are also qualities that promote hope in others. Rose Hill’s clinicians listen to residents and truly recognize them as individuals, helping them to identify sources of hope in their own lives.
Beyond the relationships residents build with their treatment team, friends, and family while at Rose Hill, they build hope through daily servicesming. Rose Hill is built on the philosophy that people can recover through meaningful daily activity.
The daily routine helps to build feelings of control, responsibility, and fosters new coping skills, which are all related to hopefulness. Each resident has a set of goals which are chosen by and specific to them. Goal setting, which is a big part of treatment planning, helps to fan the fire that brings hope to the healing process.
KYLMÄ, J., JUVAKKA, T., NIKKONEN, M., KORHONEN, T., & ISOHANNI, M. (2006). Hope and schizophrenia: An integrative review. Journal of Psychiatric & Mental Health Nursing, 13(6), 651-664.
LINDGREN, B., WILSTRAND, C., GILJE, F., & OLOFSSON, B. (2004). Struggling for hopefulness: A qualitative study of Swedish women who self-harm. Journal of Psychiatric & Mental Health Nursing, 11(3), 284-291.
Yeasting, K., & Jung, S. (2010). Hope in motion. Journal of Creativity in Mental Health, 5(3), 306-319.
