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From surviving to thriving: how does that happen
- Authors:
- BERTRAM Mark, McDONALD Sarah
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Mental Health Training Education and Practice, 10(5), 2015, pp.337-348.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: This paper explores what helped seven people in contact with secondary mental health services achieve their vocational goals, such as: employment, education, training and volunteering. Design/methodology/approach: The authors used the practice of co-operative inquiry, with staff and peer supporters co-designed an evaluation of vocational and peer support work with service users. Findings: Service users experienced invalidating living conditions that caused serious distress. These life struggles included: isolation, trauma events and stigma. The impact involved distressing emotions such as: despair, fear, pain and confusion. In contrast, when service users experienced supportive validating conditions (trusting relationships, engaging in valued activity and peer support) they reported being able to learn, change and grow – finding their own way forward, to improve well-being and quality of life. Research limitations/implications: Qualitative analysis from in-depth interviews revealed a range of consistent themes that enabled the authors to visually represent these and begin developing a model of change grounded in lived experience. Further research is required to develop this model. (Edited publisher abstract)