Developing family‐inclusive mainstream mental health services

Abstract

This paper argues that the current national policy context offers an opportunity to develop more family-inclusive mainstream mental health services. It outlines a strategy to enhance working partnerships with carers and families and discusses its training implications. The first phase of a trust-wide training programme in Somerset is described and the potential role for family therapists in promoting the wider application of systemic ideas is considered.

Working with Families Affected by Mental Distress: Stakeholders' Perceptions of Mental Health Nurses Educational Needs

“…This is consistent with other work in the area, such as REFOCUS/CPsychl (2013) who argue that the role of the family must be made explicit and that mental health professionals need to clearly understand the impact of mental distress on the family. Increasing awareness of the family and improving attitudes is also made difficult when historical negative attitudes towards the family may not have shifted within organizations (Standbridge & Burbach, 2007;Eassom et al, 2014).…”

“…According to Stanbridge and Burbach (2007), high quality evidence supports the involvement of the family and carers and is associated with improved outcomes for mental health service users. This underscores the importance of a positive relationship with families and the necessity of a coherent strategy for preparing mental health nurses for practice in this area.…”

Development and Implementation of Family Involvement Standards for Behavioral Health Provider Programs

“…Barriers appeared to include lack of knowledge about FI practices, lack of ongoing technical support, lack of FI training, no monitoring of FI practices, and no specific mandated FI policies and procedures. Similar barriers have been encountered in other standards implementation efforts (Fitzgerald & Galyer, 2007;Stanbridge & Burbach, 2007;Lakeman, 2008).…”

“…Contacts with families also increased for those who worked at community mental health agencies and received the extended training. Stanbridge and Burbach (2007) conducted training sessions with staff of community-based mental health services that lasted from one and a quarter hour to a full day workshop and provided information based on the research on families' views of mental health services and burden of caring for a relative with mental illness, benefits of including families in service provision, and national policies of partnering with families. A majority of staff surveyed at these sessions reported no previous training on working with families, and few staff members were confident in their ability to work with families, but all desired training in this area.…”

Time for a separate psychosis caregiver service?

“…As in family intervention studies, this kind of help will include negotiating, problem solving, improving communication and optimizing recovery (Barrowclough & Tarrier, 1992;Falloon, 1985;Kuipers et al, 2002). Stanbridge and Burbach (2007) discuss how to set up an inclusive family support service in one area of the UK.…”