Engaging families and carers to support recovery

Abstract

Background: Extensive research supports the role of family focused approaches within the adult mental health setting. This includes both families of adult consumers with mental illness and parents with mental illness and their families. This requires the effective engagement of carers and family members to support recovery. This is an important focus when the client is a parent. Challenges within the parenting role can impact significantly on parents' recovery and need to be considered in treatment planning. Objectives: The presentation will explore the following areas Factors that influence successful engagement; The importance of engaging families through a lived experience presentation; Responding to the parenting role in mental health service delivery; Introduction to evidence-based intervention “Let's Talk about Children”. Methods: The symposium includes a discussion of a study of carer engagement within an AMHS, lived experience by a consumer, case vignettes and video material from online training. Findings: Clinicians and carers both agree on the importance of involving carers and families in the health care provided to consumers. Both groups identify barriers to this involvement and strategies to overcome these. Involving carers and families in a family focused approach can promote effective communication and problem solving within families surrounding mental illness. “Let's Talk about Children” highlights the benefit of this approach for both parents and their children. Conclusions: Focusing on the effective engagement of consumer and families is often essential for recovery and enables family focused interventions. There are effective family focused interventions that improve outcome for both parents and children that can be used in the AMHS.L719046272015-06-12 <br />