Introducing the youth residential rehabilitation service: An operational and experiential overview of a psychosocial residential support option for young people experiencing mental health challenges

Abstract

Aim: A range of residential supports is available for young people experiencing mental health challenges. One Australian example is the Youth Residential Rehabilitation Service, which provides up to 12 months of intensive psychosocial support in a residential setting to young people aged 16-25 experiencing serious mental health challenges. This paper aimed to add to the scant literature on these services, describing the experiences of young people and staff members across the duration of a stay.Methods: This study drew on collaborative autoethnography to engage and centre the direct lived experience of young people who had lived, and staff who had worked, in a Youth Residential Rehabilitation Service.Results: We identified three phases that young people typically journey through during their stay at the service. The Arriving phase was marked by appropriate referrals, a warm welcome, a period of settling in and the development of trusting relationships. The Discovering phase saw young people identifying and enacting their strengths, hopes and values. Community connections were a focus of the Continuing phase as lives after service exit were envisioned and created.Conclusions: Drawing on collaborative autoethnography methods represents one approach to amplify the voice of young people in service design and evaluation. This paper richly described some of the possibilities and complexities of the Youth Residential Rehabilitation Service experience, which can be used to inform the service's pacing and structure of support.

Coproduction in evaluating a dual diagnosis tool with youth in a residential mental health service

“…Spies et al (2022a, 2022b, 2022c) findings were reinforced by the outcomes of the current study, which found that young people valued the supportive role that the RFUP played in facilitating positive relationships with their workers. Furthermore, the findings of this study support outcomes described by the YYRs report that young people learn to become experts of themselves via valuing diverse knowledge (Spies et al , 2022a, 2022b, 2022c). The RFUP, by valuing the young persons’ own expertise and knowledge, facilitates a process whereby young people gain a deeper understanding of themselves.…”

“…A recent report describing the practice approach and outcomes for the MHCSS’s YRR service (Spies et al , 2022a, 2022b, 2022c) highlighted the importance of relational factors between young people and workers. Spies et al (2022a, 2022b, 2022c) findings were reinforced by the outcomes of the current study, which found that young people valued the supportive role that the RFUP played in facilitating positive relationships with their workers. Furthermore, the findings of this study support outcomes described by the YYRs report that young people learn to become experts of themselves via valuing diverse knowledge (Spies et al , 2022a, 2022b, 2022c).…”

“…Capability of the other researchers in the team was also enhanced through increasing understanding of appropriate language, accessibility of language – for example use of acronyms – and challenging unconscious bias. “Co-research builds the capacity of researchers to listen, and to understand the personal and systemic barriers that prevent diverse voices from being heard” (Byrne and Wykes, 2020, as cited in Spies et al , 2022a, 2022b, 2022c). Co-research is a generative approach that values and builds the knowledge and expertise of consumers and researchers alike (Slay and Stephens, 2013; Roper et al , 2018; as cited in Spies et al , 2022a, 2022b, 2022c).…”

“…The service setting of the study reported that numerous young people have co-occurring mental health and AOD issues (Spies et al , 2022a, 2022b, 2022c). The service assists service users to explore their substance use from a position of positive regard (Spies et al , 2022a, 2022b, 2022c). This study aimed to use qualitative methods and co-design principles to gain an in-depth understanding of consumer experiences.…”

Co‐producing to understand what matters to young people living in youth residential rehabilitation services

“…Young people continue to receive specialist supports through other service systems and some participate in education or employment. This service type is explained further in a complementary article (Spies et al, 2021).…”