Introducing the recovery inspiration group: promoting hope for recovery with inspirational recovery stories

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 137-146
Author(s):  
Kelly J. Elsegood ◽  
Lucinda Anderson ◽  
Rachel Newton
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Lived Experience ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Preliminary Evaluation ◽  
Service Users ◽  
Behaviour Therapy ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Novel Approach ◽  
Mental Health Difficulties ◽  
Primary Basis

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to undertake a preliminary evaluation of a novel intervention – Recovery Inspiration Group, which uses recovery stories to promote hope and inspiration for recovery among people with complex mental health difficulties. Design/methodology/approach The Recovery Inspiration Group was delivered to women on a specialist personality disorder inpatient unit, who were concurrently participating in a dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) Programme. In total, 12 service users participated in the RIG and as part of the intervention, wrote down key reflections after hearing each recovery story. A thematic analysis of these reflections formed the primary basis of the evaluation. Descriptive statistics derived from a service user feedback survey (n=6) supplemented the qualitative findings. Findings Three themes were identified in the qualitative data, suggesting that participants had engaged with recovery-oriented reflections and experiences: recovery stories as validating and inspiring; Generalisation of DBT skills; shifting perspectives of recovery: doing better rather than being better. The survey results unanimously endorsed the RIG as a worthwhile and validating experience, which participants would recommend to other service users. Practical implications Recovery Inspiration Group appears to be a low-cost and easily replicable intervention with the potential to promote hope and inspiration for recovery among people with complex mental health difficulties. Originality/value Recovery Inspiration Group is a novel approach to harnessing the wisdom of people with lived experience of mental health difficulties, to foster hope among users of mental health inpatient services.

Is co-production working well in recovery colleges? Emergent themes from a systematic narrative review

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen Louise Bester ◽  
Anne McGlade ◽  
Eithne Darragh
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Lived Experience ◽  
Social Care ◽  
The Body ◽  
Bibliographic Databases ◽  
Service Users ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Practitioner Attitudes ◽  
Health And Social Care ◽  
The Impact

Purpose “Co-production” is a process in health and social care wherein service users and practitioners work in partnership. Recovery colleges (RCs) are educational establishments offering mental health education; a cornerstone feature is that courses are designed and delivered in parity by both mental health practitioners and “peers” – people with lived experience of mental illness. This paper aims to consider, through the identification of key themes, whether co-production within RCs is operating successfully. Design/methodology/approach The paper is a systematic review of qualitative literature. Relevant concept groups were systematically searched using three bibliographic databases: Medline, Social Care Online and Scopus. Articles were quality appraised and then synthesised through inductive thematic analysis and emergent trends identified. Findings Synthesis identified three key themes relating to the impact of co-production in RCs: practitioner attitudes, power dynamics between practitioners and service users, and RCs’ relationships with their host organisations. As a result of RC engagement, traditional practitioner/patient hierarchies were found to be eroding. Practitioners felt they were more person-centred. RCs can model good co-productive practices to their host organisations. The review concluded, with some caveats, that RC co-production was of high fidelity. Originality/value RC research is growing, but the body of evidence remains relatively small. Most of what exists examine the impact of RCs on individuals’ overall recovery and mental health; there is a limited empirical investigation into whether their flagship feature of parity between peers and practitioners is genuine.

Research watch: what really helps recovery in relation to severe mental health difficulties?

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 6-12
Author(s):  
Sue Holttum
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Support Service ◽  
Health Condition ◽  
Service Users ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Inpatient Settings ◽  
Mental Health Difficulties

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine three recent papers on mental health services and how they support recovery following a diagnosis of a severe mental health condition. Design/methodology/approach A search was carried out for recent papers on mental health and recovery. The author selected three papers that seemed to advance understanding of not only whether, but also how recovery of a meaningful life may be best supported in mental health services. Findings One paper suggested how staff were able to support service users’ personal goals and focus on recovery in acute inpatient settings, and what got in the way. The author suggests practical ways to address the barriers. A second paper reported the testing of a new model for supporting staff in primary and secondary care to work together so that service users with a diagnosis of bipolar or schizophrenia were better supported to work towards valued goals. A third paper reviewed 40 studies of how people can experience positive change after a first diagnosis of psychosis, and how change happened. Originality/value By studying the issues in detail, all three papers show how improved support for recovery and inclusion can be implemented against the backdrop of many years of service shortcomings.

Recovery-oriented support work: the perspective of people with lived experience

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 457-468
Author(s):  
Dagmar Narusson ◽  
Jean Pierre Wilken
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Lived Experience ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Recovery Process ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Personal Recovery ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Mental Health Difficulties ◽  
Support Work

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to focus on individuals who experience mental health difficulties with the services they receive from “support workers” as part of a personal recovery model, this study will obtain individuals reflections, experiences and opinions on how support helps them stay well and facilitates their personal recovery process. Recovery is seen through the lens of the CHIME framework (Connectedness–Hope–Identity–Meaning–Empowerment). Design/methodology/approach The sample size included 13 people who experience mental health difficulties and are receiving support from mental health care services. The structured interview was designed based on the INSPIRE measurement and the CHIME framework structure. The qualitative content analyses, discursive framing approach and CHIME as a framework made it possible to examine the key activities of recovery-oriented support work revealed in the data. Findings Participants valued the enhancement of hope provided by support workers and also expressed it was important as they were non-judgemental. Identity and meaning in recovery could be enhanced by sharing powerful stories about the individuals’ own life and health experiences, and those of support workers or others. Inclusive behaviour in public spaces and trying out new interest-based activities together were considered as empowering. Originality/value This research helps to understand the value of personal recovery support activities given the societal changes (tension between survival vs self-expression values) and highlights the need for value-based recovery-oriented education and practice.

scholarly journals Qualitative systematic literature review: the experience of being in seclusion for adults with mental health difficulties

2017 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy Mellow ◽  
Anna Tickle ◽  
Michael Rennoldson
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Lived Experience ◽  
Systematic Literature Review ◽  
Data Extraction ◽  
Qualitative Assessment ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mental Health Difficulties ◽  
Positive Experiences

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to conduct a systematic search of the peer-reviewed qualitative literature investigating the lived experience of seclusion for adults with mental health difficulties, to appraise the quality of the existing literature and synthesise findings. Background: seclusion is a controversial intervention for the short-term management of unsafe behaviours in inpatient mental health services. There has been some sporadic interest in service users’ experiences of this. Design/methodology/approach Systematic literature review and meta-synthesis: data sources – databases MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and PSYCINFO were searched in July 2015; review methods – the Joanna Briggs Institute’s Qualitative Assessment and Review Instrument tools for critical appraisal and data extraction were used to review papers and synthesise findings. Findings A small number of papers were found, which were of mixed quality. Originality/value The existing research is limited in both quantity and quality. Although most participants from the existing research described seclusion as mostly negative with the potential for causing iatrogenic harm, some described more positive experiences, often in the context of compassionate interactions with staff.

scholarly journals Coping with cognitive behaviour therapy for psychosis, adapting it for another culture, and community inclusion

2015 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 107-113
Author(s):  
Sue Holttum
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy ◽  
Active Role ◽  
Qualitative Studies ◽  
Social Model ◽  
Service Users ◽  
Behaviour Therapy ◽  
Community Groups ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cognitive Behaviour

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to highlight what helps and what is difficult about cognitive behaviour therapy for psychosis (CBTp) in relation to recovery and social inclusion, how it can be adapted for a non-western culture, and how inclusion in communities in which people feel comfortable can help their recovery. Design/methodology/approach – Three journal articles are described. The first summarises six small qualitative studies involving interviews with UK service users about what they found helpful and challenging about CBTp. The second article reports on a pilot trial of CBTp adapted for the culture in Pakistan, where families are seen as more involved in service users’ care. The third article describes USA-based participants’ engagement with different communities as part of their recovery. Findings – UK service users appreciated feeling equal to their therapist in CBTp, receiving an understandable explanation of their difficulties, and support for gradual steps towards activities they valued. However, it was difficult revisiting traumatic pasts to understand their difficulties, and UK mental health culture may hamper taking an active role in treatment. In Pakistan, CBTp can be successfully adapted to include a key family member and local spiritual beliefs. In a USA context, service users developed competencies in community groups they valued, and these could be minority or service user communities where people felt comfortable and could make a contribution. Originality/value – The experiences of service users of CBTp are rarely collated from several qualitative studies, and important themes came from doing so. It may be important to understand current barriers to doing CBTp homework and the effect of some aspects of mental health services on people’s readiness to take an active role. Studies of adapting CBTp for non-western cultures are rare, but it seemed successful in Pakistan, adopting a bio-psycho-spiritual-social model. The qualitative study of people’s engagement in US community groups highlights the importance of not dismissing engagement in minority groups for people’s recovery, rather than only the “wider” community.

scholarly journals “Be here now” – service users’ experiences of a mindfulness group intervention

2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 77-87 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aiveen Dillon ◽  
Charlotte Wilson ◽  
Catherine Jackman
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Intellectual Disabilities ◽  
Group Intervention ◽  
Group Process ◽  
Service Users ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mental Health Difficulties ◽  
Mindfulness Interventions ◽  
Individuals With Intellectual Disabilities

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore service users’ experiences of a mindfulness group intervention. Design/methodology/approach In total, 15 participants with a diagnosis of a mild or moderate intellectual disability and concurrent mental health difficulties were interviewed using semi-structured interviews about their experiences of attending the mindfulness group. Findings Thematic analysis was used to interpret the data. The three super ordinate themes that emerged were positive aspects of mindfulness, positive aspects of attending the group and negative aspects of attending the group. There were seven subthemes. The results highlighted that participants found the mindfulness group to be beneficial, partly due to specific aspects of the mindfulness intervention and partly due to the group process. The negative aspects of the group were harder to elicit, and were less specifically related to mindfulness. Originality/value Mindfulness-based interventions have emerged as a promising approach for individuals with intellectual disabilities with mental health difficulties. There is currently a lack of research exploring service users with intellectual disabilities about their experiences of mindfulness interventions.

Community sentence with Mental Health Treatment Requirement (MHTR); an exploration into offenders’ experience of psychological therapy

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lauren Butler ◽  
Sue Ledwith
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Lived Experience ◽  
Mental Health Treatment ◽  
Social Inequalities ◽  
Psychological Therapy ◽  
Service Users ◽  
Life Choices ◽  
Health Treatment ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Opening Up

Purpose This study aims to explore service users’ experience of psychological therapy as part of a community sentence with a Mental Health Treatment Requirement (MHTR) in Birmingham Courts between January and December 2018. Design/methodology/approach All service users that had therapy in this period were telephoned a month after ending and offered a semi-structured telephone interview. Seven service users agreed to be recorded. This data was then transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis to gain a richer understanding of their lived experience. Findings Themes identified were: Is the MHTR for me? Opening up, enlightening connections and personal change. Service users initially questioned the relevance and burden of the order for them; the experience of therapy allowed them to trust and talk about things unsaid in the past; this helped them to review and reconsider their understanding of themselves and their life choices and what further support they might need. Research limitations/implications Interviews were not completed by an independent interviewer. Experience of working with offender manager supervision additionally available throughout the sentence was not explored. Practical implications What is included in the MHTR information and support needs to be informed by the service user’s perspective, including this can improve engagement. Social implications Therapy was seen as a “a cog in the machine” and wider social inequalities may need to be addressed within the sentence. Originality/value This report focusses on experience of a therapeutic intervention – a key part of a community sentence with an MHTR.

“Attention seeker”, “drama queen”: the power of talk in constructing identities for young people with mental health difficulties

2015 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 65-78 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alison Byrne ◽  
Lorraine Swords
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Young People ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Qualitative Methodology ◽  
Research Use ◽  
Service Users ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Adolescent Mental Health Service ◽  
Mental Health Difficulties

Purpose – Mental health difficulties are often stigmatised because of situated ways of talking that become taken-for-granted “truths”. Against this backdrop, identities of those affected are constructed. The purpose of this paper is to explore identities of former inpatients at an Irish Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service. Design/methodology/approach – Ten young people (aged 18-22) participated in discussions and their discourse was analysed using a critical discursive perspective. Findings – Three key identities emerged: a hidden identity, a misunderstood identity and the struggle for a re-claimed identity. Research limitations/implications – Findings indicate the power of discourse in creating stigma and the need for mental health professionals to draw on empowering discourses to help service-users construct positive identities. The importance of involving service-users in research is also implicated. Originality/value – This research involves service-users who are increasingly, although not traditionally, involved in research. Use of qualitative methodology allows their voices to be heard and gives meaning to their experiences.

Employment of ex-prisoners with mental health problems: a review

2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 40-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian Stewart Hamilton
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Causal Explanations ◽  
Community Needs ◽  
Novel Approach ◽  
Vocational Services ◽  
Mental Health Difficulties

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the research within the area of employment for ex-prisoners who have a Serious Mental Illness (SMI). Design/methodology/approach – A review of the literature examining the employment of ex-offenders who have a SMI whilst also presenting a possible novel solution. Findings – The research highlights a distinct lack of employment opportunities and numerous barriers for offenders with research often failing to distinguish between those who have mental health difficulties. However, early findings suggest that Individual Placement and Support (IPS) approaches can generate competitive employment for this population. Practical implications – Offenders with a SMI are often routinely excluded from vocational services due to their mental health. This review has indicated that the way in which such offenders are treated in prison and reintegrated into the community needs to be addressed. Social implications – By tackling this issue not only could the mental health and quality of life of ex-offenders be improved through sustained employment, but the marked economic costs to society that unemployment and recidivism encompasses could also be alleviated. Originality/value – This review not only suggests a possible solution to the problems faced by offenders with mental health difficulties in gaining employment, but also presents a novel approach to future research that extends to outlining causal explanations for what works for whom.

Now they’re listening: involvement in clinical psychology training

2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-29
Author(s):  
Laura Lea ◽  
Sue Holttum ◽  
Victoria Butters ◽  
Diana Byrne ◽  
Helen Cable ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Clinical Psychology ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Service User ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Psychology Training ◽  
Service Users ◽  
Clinical Psychology Training ◽  
Content Type

PurposeThe 2014/2015 UK requirement for involvement of service users and carers in training mental health professionals has prompted the authors to review the work of involvement in clinical psychology training in the university programme. Have the voices of service users and carers been heard? The paper aims to discuss this issue.Design/methodology/approachThe authors update the paper of 2011 in which the authors described the challenges of inclusion and the specific approaches the authors take to involvement. The authors do this in the context of the recent change to UK standards for service user and carer involvement, and recent developments in relation to partnership working and co-production in mental healthcare. The authors describe the work carried out by the authors – members of a service user involvement group at a UK university – to ensure the voices of people affected by mental health difficulties are included in all aspects of training.FindingsCareful work and the need for dedicated time is required to enable inclusive, effective and comprehensive participation in a mental health training programme. It is apparent that there is a group of service users whose voice is less heard: those who are training to be mental health workers.Social implicationsFor some people, involvement has increased. Trainee mental health professionals’ own experience of distress may need more recognition and valuing.Originality/valueThe authors are in a unique position to review a service-user-led project, which has run for 12 years, whose aim has been to embed involvement in training. The authors can identify both achievements and challenges.

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