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User and carer involvement in mental health services: from rhetoric to science

User or carer involvement is often seen as intrinsically worth while; but if such involvement is a good thing in itself, it would not matter whether changes resulted from it. However, most people argue for user or carer involvement because they think some useful change will follow as a consequence. Being involved can benefit users or carers both personally (for example, by empowering them or increasing their social contacts) and practically (for example, by enabling them to earn money or learn new skills). Improvements can be made to services as a result of involvement, leading to better relationships between users or carers and staff, and perhaps increased job satisfaction among those working in the service. Targeting services to users' needs may improve the cost-effectiveness of those services.

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Additional Titles
British Journal of Psychiatry

Key Information

Type of Reference
Jour
ISBN/ISSN
1472-1465;0007-1250
Resource Database
Social care online
Publication Year
2003
Issue Number
8
Volume Number
183
Start Page
89-91