The journey effect: how travel affects the experiences of mental health in-patient service-users and their families

Abstract

The qualitative study presented in this paper explored the perspectives of serviceusers, family members and staff about the impact of travel issues on the lives of mental health in-patients and carers. This topic was chosen because it was prioritised by members of Xplore, a service-user and carer research group, and has received little research attention. Travel problems were a significant issue for many service-users and carers, bound-up with mental health issues and the recovery experience. Travel facilitation through the funding of taxis and the provision of guides was greatly appreciated. A few service-users and carers positively valued distancing from their previous home environment. The meaning of travel issues could only be understood in the context of individuals' wider lives and relationships. The significance of the findings is discussed in relation to the social model of disability.

An annotated and critical glossary of the terminology of inclusion in healthcare and health research

“…There are numerous examples of PR available in the literature. One example is where service users, health care providers and academics pursued participatory action research on a joint basis from conception of the idea through to dissemination of findings on the topic of how travel affects mental health in-patients when admitted to a hospital [44]. An important point noted in this study is the value gained through employing service users as researchers.…”