Description

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust (CNWL), in partnership with Lancaster University, is developing a research project that aims to evaluate how carers’ experience the service they rece

The study focuses on the triangle of care in mental health (consisting of service users, relatives, and health professionals) and will explore how relatives of people with mental health problems experience the support they receive, whether they are satisfied, and how this can be improved.

Up to 36 participants from within the borough of Brent will be invited to take part in the study, which will consist of 10 to 12 people with a mental health diagnosis, 10 to 12 relatives, and 10 to 12 health professionals. Interviews are currently being undertaken by researchers Gerasimos Chatzidamianos (Spectrum Centre) and Emmi Honeybourn (CNWL), supported by the teams with the Community Recovery and Rehabilitation Service Lines in Brent.   

The data gathered will inform specific interventions that aim to change the culture of carers’ involvement in the management and support of service users with mental health problems. This will help to increase understanding of those factors which help or hold back the involvement of relatives in the mental healthcare teams. The findings of the research are expected by November 2013, with publication in relevant journals to follow.

For more information please visit www.lancs.ac.uk/shm/research/spectrum/research/mrn/