Welcoming Places in the Community: Perspectives from Individuals with Serious Mental Illnesses

This document provides first-person accounts from people with lived experience of mental illness regarding what characteristics turn a community space into a meaningful place, and steps we can take to make all places in our communities more welcoming. If you’re curious about what you find welcoming in a place, there’s a series of worksheets at the end of this document that will help you do just that! Identifying welcoming features can lead to increased community participation for everyone, including people with serious mental illnesses.