Relating with professionals

Abstract

This paper addresses my difficulties as a carer in engaging with many professionals in mental health, both locally associated with my son's acute inpatient care, and nationally where policies are being developed and their implementation is pursued. All of us are affected by The Department of Health (DoH) Mental Health policies and their implementation by professionals has formed the way in which professionals relate with my son and myself. The way in which my son is impacted inextricably affects the way I relate to professionals. I think my difficulty in engaging lies in the relationships we all have with each another. In focusing on the process within our relationships, I attempt to raise professionals' awareness of what constitutes a relationship when we dialogue. As it takes two to engage in a dialogue, I perceive my difficulty is also the difficulty of the professionals. Carers are becoming increasingly involved in the training of mental health professionals and our combined difficulty needs to be resolved, so that we all benefit. In order to achieve positive progression, there needs to be a radical change within our relationship to provide ease of engagement from all parties. In this paper I tentatively suggest how this process can be achieved.

Great expectations: a systematic review of the literature on the role of family carers in severe mental illness, and their relationships and engagement with professionals

“…2008), participation in decision‐making (Roulstone & Hudson 2007) and relationships with practitioners (Krupnik et al . 2005, Clarke 2006, Wilkinson & McAndrew 2008). However, the relationship with professionals has not always been benign, as professionals might have been influenced by ‘psychiatric and psychological models that have sought to blame families for causing mental illness’ (Jones 2002, p. 159).…”

“…There has been a great deal of discourse about the experience of care-giving by family members. Themes identified include: carer needs and burden (Lloyd & Carson 2005, Kuipers et al 2006, information sharing and confidentiality , Slade et al 2007, Gray et al 2008, participation in decision-making (Roulstone & Hudson 2007) and relationships with practitioners (Krupnik et al 2005, Clarke 2006, Wilkinson & McAndrew 2008. However, the relationship with professionals has not always been benign, as professionals might have been influenced by 'psychiatric and psychological models that have sought to blame families for causing mental illness' (Jones 2002, p. 159).…”

Comparative review of family–professional communication: What mental health care can learn from oncology and nursing home care

“…Many studies similarly emphasize the importance of family members in the care process and their need for support (Cheng & Chan 2005; Gasque‐Carter & Curlee 1999; Gutierrez‐Maldonado et al . 2005; Harden 2005; Legatt 2007; Rose 1997), while reporting simultaneously that, in practice, mental health‐care professionals continue to pay little attention to family members (Clarke 2006; Gasque‐Carter & Curlee 1999; Harden 2005; Legatt 2007; Ostman et al . 2000; Rose 1997).…”

Experiences of the psychiatric specialist health services – The perspective of relatives of inpatients with severe depression

“…the side effects of pharmaceuticals. [27,28] By contrast, Nordby et al [3] found that the staff acknowledged the importance of the relatives' contribution when it comes to knowledge about the ill person.…”