Authors: Marianne Wyder
Year: 2017
Event: 2017 TheMHS Conference
Subject: Research & Evaluation Informing Practice,Lived Experience, Recovery
Type of resource: Conference Presentations and Papers
Abstract: Despite families being critical in providing support to their loved one, many families report feeling unsupported and distanced from treatment and care planning. There has been little systematic interest in the changing roles and experiences of families throughout the emergence of illness, crisis, treatment seeking and subsequent recovery. This paper will present the findings from a qualitative study investigating the experiences of 20 families of an involuntary mental health admission and will highlight how a family’s journey is interdependent and interconnected with that of their loved-one. It will also highlight the relational nature of recovery and show that a family’s response to a mental health crisis is dynamic and related to the stages of treatment. There is a need to recognise families’ expertise and (when appropriate) involve them as equal partners in planning and delivery of treatment. Facilitating and supporting families in providing recovery oriented care will enable them to start their own recovery journey which will enhance their ability to provide recovery oriented care.
Learning Objectives
Learning Objective 1: The audience will gain an understanding of the relational nature of recovery and the impact of an involuntary admission on family
Learning Objective 2: Family and carers are critical to the recovery journey and it is critical to support them at a time of crisis.
References
Marianne Wyder & Robert Bland (2014): The Recovery Framework as a Way
of Understanding Families' Responses to Mental Illness: Balancing Different Needs and Recovery Journeys, Australian Social Work
Terkelsen, K. (1987). The evolution of family responses to mental illness through time. In A Hatfield & H Lefley (Eds.), families of the mentally ill: Coping and adaptation (pp. 151-166). New Yor: Guilford Press.
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