Two leading mental health charities, Rethink and MDF The BiPolar
Organisation today announced the start of a new partnership with and project
sponsored by AstraZeneca. It comprises of experiential research to identify
what hinders and helps achieve recovery and aims to help to put recovery at
the heart of mental health reform. It will report late 2008.
In the first nationwide research of its kind, seven service users are being
trained to conduct research amongst other service users. What makes this
research unique is that the interviewers in the analysis will make active
use of their insight into the findings as people who have themselves
experienced mental health difficulties in the past. For Rethink, this unique
contribution from the interviewers, as well as the research subjects, will
provide better insight into what 'recovery' means for patients with mental
health disorders in a bid to create better understanding between doctors,
patients and carers to ultimately improve care.
It will also enable the organisation to refine the services already
provided. "Recovery is central to the activities of Rethink and working with
everyone affected by severe mental illness to recover a better quality of
life is at the heart of our mission. By working with service users to
conduct this research in the first place, we anticipate it will provide
better guidance on how we can improve our service and enable more people who
use our services onto the road to recovery" said Dr Larsen, Head of
Evaluation at Rethink.
The qualitative research will be conducted amongst 50 service users,
recruited through Rethink and MDF as well as other contacts, and will help
move away from a one dimensional focus on symptoms in a patient's recovery.
The research will result in a report, which will be provided to:
- Psychiatrists to supplement their insight on what recovery means for
service users and to help inform their decisions in the future
- New service users to aid them in their recovery journey
Dr Larsen also commented that, "Regaining a fulfilling life is the ultimate
aim of any mental health service user. People often feel uncomfortable
talking about these issues and what works for them so working with service
users to conduct the research will hopefully encourage the research
participants to open up and enable us to gain more of an insight into what
is needed."
"AstraZeneca is delighted to be sponsoring this important research. We
believe that recovery should be the aim for all people with schizophrenia
and bipolar disorder. The research will provide valuable insights into the
recovery process which will allow clinical practice to be adapted
accordingly. AstraZeneca will support these changes where possible," says
Phil Krzyzek, Mental Health Partnership Leader, AstraZeneca.
One percent of the population live with bipolar disorder[2] at any one time
and approximately one percent of the population will experience
schizophrenia in their lifetime[1]. Recovery from these conditions can be
slow and once diagnosis is made, it can take years for a person to regain
their health, self-esteem and independence. Recovery can be defined as the
personal process of tackling the adverse impacts of experiencing mental
health problems, despite their continuing or long-term presence[3].
Definition of recovery
"Recovery can be defined as a personal process of tackling the adverse
impacts of experiencing mental health problems, despite their continuing or
long term presence. It involves personal development and change, including
acceptance there are problems to face, a sense of involvement and control
over one's life, the cultivation of hope and using the support from others,
including direct collaboration in joint problem-solving between people using
services, workers and professionals. Recovery starts with the individual and
works form the inside out. For this reason it is personalised and challenges
traditional service approaches." [4]
About the research
The project, which has received ВЈ30,000 sponsorship from AstraZeneca, will
contribute to a wider commitment by Rethink, MDF and AstraZeneca into
understanding more about recovery and making it more of a reality for other
service users. The data will be collected through in-depth and semi
structured interviews, the interviewers will also be asked to keep a
reflections diary to document their own experiences and personal journeys to
ensure their contribution to the research.
About Rethink
Rethink, the leading national mental health membership charity, works to
help everyone affected by severe mental illness recover a better quality of
life.
Rethink
About MDF The BiPolar Organisation
MDF The BiPolar Organisation is a user-led charity working to enable people
affected by bipolar disorder (manic depression) to take control of their
lives.
MDF The BiPolar Organisation
About AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca is a major international healthcare business engaged in
research, development, manufacturing and marketing of prescription
pharmaceuticals and supplier for healthcare services. AstraZeneca is one of
the world's leading pharmaceutical companies with healthcare sales of US
$29.55 billion and is a leader in gastrointestinal, cardiovascular,
neuroscience, respiratory, oncology and infection product sales. AstraZeneca
is listed in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (Global) as well as the
FTSE4Good Index.
References:
1. Rethink. Schizophrenia factsheet (RET10113).
mentalhealthshop/products/rethink_publication.... Accessed
30th April 2008.
2. Rethink. Bipolar disorder (manic depression) factsheet (RET0095).
mentalhealthshop/products/rethink_publication.... Accessed
30th April 2008.
3. Rethink. Recovery - a brief introduction to the recovery approach.
rethink/living_with_mental_illness/recovery_a... Accessed
30th April 2008.
4. Rethink. A Report on the Work of the Recovery Learning Sites and other
Recovery-orientated activities and its incorporation into The Rethink Plan
2004-08. rethink/living_with_mental_illness/recovery_a....
Accessed 30th April 2008.
AstraZeneca
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