News Release, 14 August 2001
A series of user-led research projects supported by the Mental Health Foundation has shown that mental health service providers should be offering a wider choice of services and taking a more person-centred approach in monitoring service effectiveness. The recommendations come in a new report from the charity, 'Doing Research Ourselves'.
The Strategies for Living Research Support Project supported six user-led research projects looking into alternative ways of coping with mental distress. Support was given on designing the project, deciding what questions to ask and the process of carrying out the research.
Vicky Nicholls, Strategies for Living Project Co-ordinator said: "There is a current trend among mental health policy-makers and planners to talk about user-involvement, but if this is to be done properly it involves a great deal of careful work and a different approach. Historically, service users have had little chance to influence research agendas, and changing this will take time".
The evaluation projects included an auricular acupuncture service, a voluntary-sector drop-in group and a study of the impact of attending mosque for Muslim men with mental health problems. Findings common to all six projects were that participants experienced a feeling of belonging and often a sense of calm; they found a greater ability to take control of their lives and became more self-aware. There were also impacts on the researchers themselves, who found that doing the research was a liberating and empowering experience which increased their self-confidence.
The research highlights the value of non-statutory approaches to mental health. "We now have much-needed evidence that voluntary sector services, complementary therapies and self-help groups have a huge impact on people's lives" explained Vicky Nicholls. "Such services have been neglected in the past due to a lack of evidence, but this research shows that statutory mental health services should be offering access to a wider choice of supports."
The Research Support Project is now making a series of recommendations, including:
- There should be an increase in the availability of low-cost and accessible complementary therapies for people experiencing mental health problems.
- Health and social services commissioners should review their performance indicators so that they reflect aspects of services that matter to the people who use them.
- There should be greater recognition of the importance of self-help groups and alternative approaches to mental distress, and priority should be given to supporting such groups.
- Local mental health user groups should be supported to input more effectively into statutory services.
- Clear and accessible information should be provided on mental health issues, services and support available in local areas.
- More research should be carried out into the benefits of a broad range of complementary therapies and alternative approaches, including the role of people's religious and spiritual beliefs.
Vicky Nicholls commented: "It is time for user-led qualitative research to be recognised as a valid source of evidence for the development of mental health services. It goes beyond traditional scientific approaches which do not always ask questions which are relevant to the participants. There is a lot to be learnt from good quality user-focused, person-centred research."
The Research Support Project is now being developed to enable more individuals and user/survivor groups around the UK to research and evaluate strategies for coping with mental distress.
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