The INFORM Project: A Service User-Led Research Endeavor
Section snippets
User-Led Research
There are many levels of service user involvement in research, from service users being briefly consulted about particular aspects of a research project through to research that is led, carried out, and managed at all stages by service users in relation to mental health (Johnson et al., 2004). User involvement can involve contention and anxiety for all concerned as it necessitates a shift in the balance of relationships between, among others, “professional” researchers, service providers, and
The INFORM project
The Access to Mental Health Services Team (AT) was first introduced in April 2001 to provide a 24-hour crisis resolution and home treatment service. The team consisted of a consultant psychiatrist, an associate specialist doctor, qualified nurses, outreach workers, a senior occupational therapist, a senior social worker, a pharmacist, an office manager, and a small administrative team. The AT offered an initial assessment of needs, after which some service users would be allocated for “home
Findings
Of those invited (392), 65 people initially responded, and of these 49 provided detailed information about their experiences (13%). One respondent described two distinct and separate referrals to the AT during the period surveyed, and these were treated as separate responses. Nineteen people agreed to face-to-face interviews, 11 of whom also completed the postal survey questionnaires. Fourteen chose telephone interviews, whereas 17 people chose to respond by completing the questionnaire only,
Discussion
Our findings reflect two themes that are dominant in the literature on users' experiences of mental health services. The importance of good communication recurs over and again throughout the literature (Bee et al., 2008, Bramesfeld et al., 2007, Buszewicz et al., 2006, Campbell et al., 2007, Crow et al., 2002, Eales et al., 2006, Kai and Crosland, 2001, Mental Health Foundation / Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health, 2002, Nolan and Badger, 2005, Pinfold et al., 2005, Rogers et al., 1993, Rose,
Acknowledgment
The authors acknowledge all the INFORM members who contributed to the research endeavor, all respondents who willingly gave permission for their experiences to be shared to further inform mental health care services, and the A Team staff who initiated and provided funding to achieve the first user-led research in the locality.
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