Key areas for action
Engage carers and patients > issues
Involvement of families in treatment has been shown to enhance the quality of life of persons with severe mental illness1 and reduce the risk of relapse2 - even by as much as by 50%.3
- Many mental healthcare services have inherited a 'top down' attitude towards interaction between healthcare professionals, planners, and people with mental ill health. This approach is largely contrary to principles of patient and carer empowerment and may be harmful to optimal treatment outcomes.
- Benefits of user and carer involvement have been found to include greater confidence, reduction in anxiety, greater understanding of personal needs, improved trust, better relationships with professional and positive health effects.4
- Involving users and their carers can include
- engagement in clinical decisions
- Input into service delivery and planning
- Joint training with professionals
- Consultations in the development of quality assurance frameworks.