Mental health advocacy outcomes from service user perspectives

Mental Health Review Journal, Ahead of Print. Purpose The purpose of this paper is to address a knowledge gap on advocacy outcomes from mental health service users ’ perspective, and the implications for evaluating advocacy impact. The studies discussed highlight challenges for measuring the outcomes of advocacy, but underline the importance of doing so, and of involving service users alongside other stakeholders in co-designing evaluation systems. Design/ methodology/approach The paper uses findings from three qualitative studies of independent advocacy involving focus groups and interviews with: 30 African and African Caribbean men who were mental health service users; 90 “qualifying patients” in a study of Independent Mental Health Advocate ser vices; and nine young women in children and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS). Findings A comparative analysis and synthesis of findings from three studies identifies four common dimensions: how mental health advocacy is conceptualised and understood; how service users define advocacy outc omes; wider impacts; and, user involvement in evaluating advocacy outcomes. Advocacy outcomes were conceptualised as increasing involvement, changing care and treatment and supporting personal development. There was evidence of advocacy acting to empower mental health service users, and of broader i mpacts on service regimes and policies. However, there was limited evidence of transformational impact. Evaluating advocacy outcomes ...
Source: Mental Health Review Journal - Category: Psychiatry Source Type: research