University of South Australia releases spotlight report on person-centred and consumer directed mental health care
The report was an industry project prepared for the National Mental Health Commission and conducted by UniSA’s Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Research and Education Group.
The University of South Australia (UniSA) has released a spotlight report on person-centred and consumer-directed mental health care. The report was an industry project prepared for the National Mental Health Commission and conducted by UniSA’s Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Research and Education Group.
Dr Mark Loughhead, a lecturer from the Lived Experience of the Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Research and Education Group at the University of South Australia, provided insights into the project.
Why is it important to undertake the project?
The project was developed to provide an understanding of how the concepts of person-centred and consumer-directed mental health care are evident in mental health care settings. One aim was to hear from consumers, carers, mental health practitioners and policymakers about their experiences and views. This was important because these concepts are influential in general health care, aged care and disability sectors. Yet, there hasn’t been a significant body of Australian academic work interpreting them in a contemporary mental health and suicide prevention context. A further aim was to promote discussion and action about the different tensions and barriers involved in achieving these levels of care. We see this work as vital given that many consumers, carers, and service leaders report mixed, difficult or harmful experiences in care systems.
How were groups involved in the project, and how did you collect data?
We sent a targeted invite to a broad range of peak bodies, organisations, and services. It was important we talked to people across diverse groups and service settings. We spoke to 50 people through nine focus groups and 15 interviews, and they provided very rich information and experience. We then undertook a thematic analysis of key messages and concepts, as well as barriers, issues and ways forward. From there, we undertook a co-design process with 20 participants to develop our findings on what system-level shifts were needed.
What were the main findings from the project?
Through thematic analysis and codesign we developed detailed expectations on how person-centred care and consumer directed care are understood from lived experience and provider viewpoints. We also identified many key tensions and challenges for ensuring services and practitioners can consistently deliver on these expectations. These included issues such as paternalism, medical model limits, power imbalances, experiences of coercion and risk aversion, service inflexibility, lack of practitioner resources and time, lack of pathways for people experiencing complex issues, limited service information, and stigma and stereotyping.
What are some of the things services and systems of care can do following the outcomes of the project?
Our findings and codesign work on shifts highlight eight areas for action. These are focused on:
- Promoting practitioner education and training
- Improving service leadership and structures, including lived experience leadership
- Reform of mental health legislation for human rights
- Improving ‘upstream’ supports and developing crisis response centres
- Funding lived experience, peer navigation, and peer support programs across specialist services and community.
The authors show appreciation and gratitude for everyone involved in and contributing to this work.