Recovery of evidence‐based practice

Abstract

Consumer recovery is now enshrined in the national mental health policy of many countries. If this construct, which stems from the consumer/user/survivor movement, is truly to be the official and formal goal of mental health services, then it must be the yardstick against which evidence-based practice (EBP) is judged. From a consumer-recovery perspective, this paper re-examines aspects of services chosen for study, methodologies, outcomes measures, and standards of evidence associated with EBP, those previously having been identified as deficient and in need of expansion. One of the significant differences between previous investigations and the present study is that the work, writing, perspectives, and advocacy of the consumer movement has developed to such a degree that we now have a much more extensive body of material upon which to critique EBP and inform and support the expansion of EBP. Our examination reinforces previous findings and the ongoing need for expansion. The consumer recovery-focused direction, resources, frameworks, and approaches identified through the present paper should be used to expand the aspects of services chosen for study, methodologies, outcomes measures, and standards of evidence. This expansion will ultimately enable services to practice in a manner consistent with the key characteristics of supporting personal recovery.

Doing what we can, but knowing our place: Being an ally to promote consumer leadership in mental health

“…An example of consumer knowledge not being respected relates to recovery. Recovery, now a popular focus of contemporary mental health services (Australian Government, ), was developed by the consumer movement to shift the focus of mental illness from diagnosis, symptoms, and illness to strengths, well‐being, and hope (Gordon & Ellis ). Over time, recovery has been adopted earnestly by mental health professionals (Clossey et al .…”

Beliefs About Health, Health Risks and Health Expectations from the Perspective of People with a Psychotic Disorder

“…Numerous factors may account for this, for example low socioeconomic situation [4], which often includes unhealthy lifestyle behaviors such as smoking, abuse of alcohol, unhealthy eating habits, and low physical activity levels [6]. To treat psychotic symptoms, psychopharmacological interventions [7] are predominant. These medications can save lives by decreasing psychiatric symptoms and suicide, but they also increase the risks of weight gain [8].…”

Learning essentials: What graduates of mental health nursing programmes need to know from an industry perspective

“…Recovery and its applicability to mental health settings were developed and championed by people with lived experiences of recovery, and by definition, recovery requires nurses to recognise and promote a meaningful life beyond illness (Gordon & Ellis ). It remains widely agreed that clinicians are not yet adequately prepared for recovery‐focused practice (Moran et al .…”