Methods
Design
A cross-sectional study was conducted using a self-reported
questionnaire. The questionnaire was developed by the
Awareness of early warning signs and help-seeking behaviours
© 2009 Blackwell Publishing 695
authors and consists of questions regarding awareness of
early warning signs of deterioration and early help-seeking
behaviours. The study was performed in 40 social rehabilitation
facilities for the mentally ill in eight prefectures in
Japan. Social rehabilitation facilities in Japan include
community centres such as life training centres, welfare job
centres and facilities in which staff promote the users’
recovery in community-based settings. In these facilities,
rehabilitation training programmes such as medication
management skills, jobs and housing accommodations are
provided for the users. The 40 facilities were nominated for
their good practice by researchers and experts in psychiatric
community care and we called the 40 facilities to seek
their cooperation in this study.