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Engaging consumers in the A ustralian emergency mental health context: a qualitative perspective from clinicians working in the community
Author(s) -
Procter Nicholas,
Backhouse Julia,
Cother Ingrid,
Ferguson Monika,
Fielder Andrea,
Jackson Adrian,
Murison Julie,
Reilly JulieAnne
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
health and social care in the community
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.984
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1365-2524
pISSN - 0966-0410
DOI - 10.1111/hsc.12156
Subject(s) - thematic analysis , mental health , context (archaeology) , flexibility (engineering) , focus group , perspective (graphical) , metropolitan area , qualitative research , community engagement , psychology , health care , public relations , nursing , applied psychology , medicine , sociology , psychiatry , marketing , business , political science , computer science , paleontology , social science , statistics , mathematics , pathology , artificial intelligence , biology , law
Successfully engaging with consumers is seen as an essential component of mental healthcare, yet doing so can be challenging and little is understood about the unique engagement skills and attributes employed by mental health clinicians working in the emergency community context. Consequently, this qualitative study explored the engagement experiences of clinicians to identify the attributes used when engaging with consumers in this unique setting. We conducted two semi‐structured focus groups in July and August 2011 with 16 clinicians employed at one metropolitan mental health organisation in S outh A ustralia. Using thematic analysis, we identified two key themes pertaining to the skills and attributes used for successful consumer engagement: (i) building trust, through communication style, an honest approach, facilitating choice and locating trust networks; and (ii) portraying genuine care, through showing respect, offering practical assistance and taking the least restrictive pathway. These findings highlight the unique nature of engagement in the emergency community mental health setting, as well as the flexibility and resourcefulness required to facilitate it.