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Research involving mental health consumers and carers: a reference group approach
Author(s) -
Lammers John,
Happell Brenda
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
international journal of mental health nursing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.911
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1447-0349
pISSN - 1445-8330
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-0979.2004.00343.x
Subject(s) - mental health , obligation , psychology , service (business) , service provider , nursing , function (biology) , mental health service , medicine , psychiatry , business , marketing , political science , evolutionary biology , law , biology
Policy changes within the mental health system are creating an increasing expectation that service providers increase the opportunities for consumer and carer participation in the planning , delivery and evaluation of mental health services. If they are to reflect this change in philosophy , researchers have an obligation to ensure the involvement of consumers and carers , above and beyond involvement as a participant in all relevant mental health research. This paper describes the establishment and function of a reference group , established to guide and assist with the conduct of a research project examining the experiences of consumers and carers with psychiatric disability support services. The formation and operation of , and the valuable contribution made by , the reference group is discussed.