ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND.: Sustaining well-being challenges people with serious mental health issues. Community gardening is an occupation used to promote clients' well-being, yet there is limited evidence to support this intervention. PURPOSE.: This paper examines how facilitated community gardening programs changed the subjective well-being and social connectedness of people living with mental health issues. METHOD.: A community-based participatory research approach and qualitative methods were used with 23 adults living in supported housing and participating in supported community gardening programs. A constructivist approach guided inductive data analysis. FINDINGS.: Participation in community gardening programs enhanced well-being through welcoming places, a sense of belonging, and developing positive feelings through doing. The connection to living things and responsibility for plants grounded participants in the present and offered a unique venue for learning about gardening and themselves. IMPLICATIONS.: Practitioners and service-users should collaborate to develop leadership, programs, places, and processes within community gardens to enhance well-being.
