​What is Be-friending?

​Befriending is a community service that fosters public engagement of people with mental illness through one-to-one friendship with volunteers. Recent studies show the positive effects of the mental health services done by non-professionals in terms of its ability to reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness and help them have more self-esteem, self-worth, and self-confident [7].

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Volunteers also find befriending an eye-opener to the difficulties and social stigma surrounding mental health. They are also able to gain a better understanding of mental illness and mental health services. In addition to the personal understanding of mental illness, befriending potentially helps develop awareness in the general public by presenting the effectiveness of services as well.

 

During the transition of homeless individuals to permanent housing under the Housing First program, it is required for the community to perform humanistic services to address the multifaced effects of homelessness on an individual to achieve housing stability [8]. Having a close and strong relationship with the community where people have a great understanding of mental illness gives mentally ill homeless individuals relief and motivation for a stable life.