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Accessible Summary: What the paper adds to existing knowledge?: Personality disorder is a serious mental health condition affecting up to 52% of psychiatric outpatients and 70% of inpatients and forensic patients. People with a diagnosis of personality disorder have higher morbidity and mortality than those without.Service users and carers reported a lack of training for staff in the management of individuals with a diagnosis of personality disorder, particularly with regard to self‐harm and suicidal behaviours.Staff burnout creates barriers to compassionate person‐centred care for individuals with a diagnosis of personality disorder as staff struggled to accommodate the nature of the presentation when under significant emotional, psychological and professional strain caused by understaffing and lack of support. What are the implications for practice?: This paper adds new knowledge by informing services of ways to improve care provision from the perspectives of both carers and service users.A more holistic and less medicalised approach to the treatment of problems associated with a diagnosis of a personality disorder should be adopted, and personality disorder training introduced for all healthcare practitioners, to improve patient outcomes. Introduction: There is limited understanding of the experience of people with complex mental health (CMH) needs, including those with a diagnosis of personality disorder (PD) and carers of those individuals. Little is known about carers of those in inpatient forensic settings, yet it has been identified that they may have additional needs when compared to general carers. Research highlights that community carer support services were perceived as inadequate and out‐of‐area placements were described as putting an added strain on ability to support loved ones. Understanding PD within a population of people with CMH needs and how a diagnosis described as PD impacts on care and treatment experience is vital to providing high‐quality care. Aim: To evaluate the care experience of service users and carers with lived experience of a diagnosis of PD and out‐of‐area placements. Method: Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with six service users and four carers to explore the experiences and perspectives of people with a diagnosis of PD. Interviews were audio recorded and thematically analysed. Results: Four interrelated themes were developed; Influence of a diagnosis of PD on Staff, Early and Appropriate Intervention, Recognition of the Individual and Training and Knowledge of people with a diagnosis of PD. Discussion: Anti‐stigma interventions for staff, research on care provision and structural changes to services including more evidence‐based therapy for individuals with a diagnosis of PD may help reduce disparate treatment and improve prognosis for recovery. Implications for Practice: This paper informs services of ways to improve care provision from the perspective of carers and service users. A more holistic and less medicalised approach to the treatment of problems associated with diagnoses of PD should be adopted, and PD training for all healthcare practitioners to improve patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accessible Summary: What is known on the subject?: Nurses' observation of patients in seclusion is essential to ensure patient safety.Patient observation in seclusion assists nurses in adhering to the requirements of mental health legislation and hospital policy.Direct observation and video monitoring are widely used in observing patients in seclusion.Coercive practices may cause distress to patient‐staff relations. What the paper adds to existing knowledge?: We add detailed information on specific observation methods in seclusion and compare them from the perspective of patients.Nurses communicating with patients ensures relational contact and that quality care is provided to patients even in the most distressed phase of their illness.Providing prior information to patients on observation methods in seclusion and the need for engaging patients in meaningful activities, while in seclusion are emphasized.Observation via camera and nurses' presence near the seclusion room made patients feel safe and gave a sense of being cared for in seclusion.Pixellating the video camera would give a sense of privacy and dignity. What are the implications for practice?: The overarching goal is to prevent seclusion. However, when seclusion is used as a last resort to manage risk to others, it should be done in ways that recognize the human rights of the patient, in ways that are least harmful, and in ways that recognize and cater to patients' unique needs.A consistent approach to relational contact and communication is essential. A care plan must include patient's preferred approach for interacting while in seclusion to support individualized care provision.Viewing panels (small window on the seclusion door) are important in establishing two‐way communication with the patient. Educating nurses to utilize them correctly helps stimulate relational contact and communication during seclusion to benefit patients.Engaging patients in meaningful activities when in seclusion is essential to keep them connected to the outside world. Depending on the patient's presentation in the seclusion room and their preferences for interactions, reading newspapers, poems, stories, or a book chapter aloud to patients, via the viewing panel could help ensure such connectedness.More focus should be placed on providing communication training to nurses to strengthen their communication skills in caring for individuals in challenging care situations.Patient education is paramount. Providing prior information to patients using a co‐produced information leaflet might reduce their anxiety and make them feel safe in the room.When using cameras in the seclusion room, these should be pixelated to maintain patients' privacy. Introduction: A lack of research investigating the specific role that various observational techniques may have in shaping the therapeutic relations in mental health care during seclusion warranted this study. Aim: The aim of the study was to explore patients' experience of different methods of observation used while the patient was in seclusion. Method: A retrospective phenomenological approach, using semi‐structured interviews, ten patients' experiences of being observed in the seclusion room was investigated. Colaizzi's descriptive phenomenological method was followed to analyse the data. Results: Communicating and engaging patients in meaningful activities can be achieved via the viewing panel. The camera was considered essential in monitoring behaviour and promoting a sense of safety. Pixelating the camera may transform patient view on privacy in seclusion. Discussion: The mental health services must strive to prevent seclusion and every effort should be made to recognise the human rights of the patient. The study reveals numerous advantages when nurses actively engage in patient communication during the process of observation. Implications for Practice: Different observation methods yield different benefits; therefore, staff education in using these methods is paramount. Empowering the patient with prior information on seclusion, engaging them in meaningful activities and proper documentation on patient engagement, supports the provision of individualised care in seclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accessible Summary: What is known on the subject?: The leading reason for suicide attempts in Japan is health problems, among which depression is the most common, followed by physical illnesses.Patients with physical illness and suicide ideation are not rare among patients receiving home‐based care.General home visiting nurses (GHVNs) without knowledge, skills or experience in psychiatric care are required to provide care for patients with physical illness who are at risk of suicide in Japan. What this paper adds to existing knowledge?: More detailed understanding of GHVNs' experiences and perspectives on working with suicidal patients in home care.This study enriches our understanding of how suicide prevention strategies should be developed for GHVNs. What are the implications for practice?: Focusing education on therapeutic communication skills and meanings with relationships with patients is required by GHVNs.Training for suicide risk assessment and guidelines appropriate to GHVNs' situation is crucial.Establishing a liaison service system with a multidisciplinary team, including psychiatric home‐visiting nurses, is necessary for home healthcare to achieve continuity of care. Introduction: In Japan, even a general home visiting nurse (GHVN) lacking psychiatric experience and training can provide home nursing care to patients at risk of suicide. Little attention is given to nursing care for suicide by GHVNs who care for patients with physical illness. However, these patients with suicidal ideation for home care are surprisingly common. Aim/Question: We explored the experiences of GHVNs who cared for patients with suicidal ideation and focused on the nurses' perceptions and interactions. Method: We conducted semi‐structured interviews with 15 GHVNs. We discussed the nurses' experiences caring for patients with suicidal ideation, their perceptions during these interactions and their response. Results: General home visiting nurses were perplexed upon learning of the patient's suicidal ideation. They interacted with such patients by 'avoiding the core of the matter' while focusing on maintaining a relationship with them. Discussion: Not addressing the patient's suicidal thoughts will not only disable the suicide risk assessment but also lead to patient isolation. Suicide prevention care needs to consider the unique characteristics of home care. Implications for Practice: General home visiting nurses require training in suicide risk assessment and communication skills. Establishing a liaison service, including psychiatric home visiting nurses, is necessary to achieve continuity of care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accessible summary: What is known on the subject?: Stigma associated with care homes has been found to influence residents' lives, and it is a known risk factor for depression among older adults worldwide.Older residents in Asia and particularly, in Thai care homes commonly experience stigma due to being strongly influenced by a traditional cultural paradigm of filial piety.The understanding of how residents perceive and experience the stigma associated with residing in care homes, as well as its link to the development of depression, remains very limited. What does the paper add to existing knowledge?: This research explains the dynamics of the process of the stigma associated with living care homes among Thai older residents.This research highlights the various ways in which stigma impacts residents, their families and care home staff.This study identifies mitigating stigma factors, including social support, coping strategies (karma, mindfulness and religious devotions) and activities that may mitigate perceived stigma associated with care home residency. What are the implications for practice?: There is a compelling need to improve the well‐being of older people living in care homes and to combat the cultural stigma associated with living in care homes through promoting positive attitudes and educational interventions in society, communities and care homes themselves and involving residents' families in the planning and delivery of care for residents. We advocate that the government promotes security and sustainable life for all Thai older adults. Introduction: Stigma associated with living in care homes is a known risk factor for depression among care home residents in Asia, including Thailand. However, little is understood about how such stigma is experienced among residents and care home staff. Aims: To examine older adults' perceptions of stigma and to understand how stigma associated with living in care homes causes or exacerbates depressive symptoms. Methods: A qualitative case study approach was used to gain an in‐depth view of stigma, from two public care homes in northeast Thailand. Data were collected by in‐depth interviews with 50 participants (30 older residents and 20 care home staff), and non‐participant observation was conducted over 1 month. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. Results: The study identified three major themes of stigma, comprising the causes of stigma, reactions toward stigma, and mitigating factors. Discussion: Negative beliefs about care homes and residents, contribute to stigma. Residents exhibited negative emotions and behaviours, including depressive symptoms. Residents reported using particular coping strategies that helped them cope with their perceptions of stigma. Implications for Practice: Future research should focus on strategies or research to combat stigma in order to prevent depression and reduce perceptions of stigma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accessible Summary: What is known on the subject?: At the outset of the COVID‐19 pandemic, little was known about ways of delivering registered nurse practice within CMHTs under restrictions associated with a global pandemic.Emerging research focused on broad healthcare staff wellbeing during the pandemic. Qualitative research explored the overall response of COVID‐19 on people with existing health needs or remote working more specifically.Over the past 2 years studies have emerged detailing experiences but no studies have used qualitative research to understand community mental health nurses and service users experience of services. What the paper adds to existing knowledge?: This co‐produced qualitative study is the first to explore the changes to CMHT care from the experience of service users and nurses later in the COVID‐19 pandemic.The study questions whether recovery‐based approaches are possible in a hybrid way of working.The findings identify challenges for nurses' well‐being and work–life boundaries when working from home.The study adds to historical professional narratives of mental health nursing. What are the implications for practice: While hybrid approaches developed in response to COVID‐19 restrictions may offer more choice these approaches need further co‐produced evaluation on the impact of recovery‐focused care and therapeutic relationships.Mental health nurses need to review how future hybrid working continues to impact nurses' mental health and emotional safety.Nurses and service users need to raise awareness within society and policy on the impact that COVID‐19 had on people with existing mental health conditions. Introduction: Community Mental Health Team responses to COVID‐19 included fundamental service delivery adaptations. Aim/Question: Our co‐produced study sought to understand which service delivery changes experienced by service users and registered nurses were helpful or unhelpful to caregiving and receiving. Method: Qualitative semi‐structured interviews were undertaken with 10 service users and 13 registered nurses from 3 NHS England sites. Co‐produced throughout, people with lived experience of mental health services and nurses wishing to improve their research experience undertook interviews following training. Data were analysed thematically. Findings: Care radically changed from in‐person to large phone or video contact. This reportedly altered therapeutic relationship building and raised questions about whether recovery‐focused care was possible. Hybrid working was viewed as helpful but raised challenges for nurse wellbeing. Discussion: Changes to care delivery challenged the fundamentals of recovery‐focused interventions and therapeutic relationships. Service users and nurses well‐being consequently suffered. The impact of the pandemic on people with existing mental health conditions was poorly acknowledged in the media. Implications for Practice: Recovery‐focused interventions and relationship building need evaluating in the light of ongoing hybrid working. Teams need to consider the well‐being of nurses engaged in complex service‐user interactions from home. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What Is Known about the Subject?: Immigrant, refugee and asylum seeker populations worldwide are at high risk of mental health issuesNational mental health policies call for recognising Australian society's multicultural characteristics to ensure adequate mental health services to CALD communitiesSeveral barriers exist for people from CALD communities in Victoria to access and utilise mental health servicesImproving mental health professionals' knowledge of mental health service provision and cultural responsiveness can enhance CALD community access to services. What Does this Paper Add to Existing Knowledge?: We analysed the perspectives of people from CALD communities in Victoria regarding their needs and experiences with mental health services. Participants reported diverse perceptions and understanding of mental health issues and servicesVarious challenges were identified regarding health service utilisation for the CALD community in Victoria, including language barriers, stigma towards mental health issues, mental health illiteracy, distrust and lack of familiarity with mainstream mental health services. These challenges were acknowledged by community members even after a long residence in AustraliaThe data generated on the beliefs about mental health issues and consequent help‐seeking behaviours highlight the importance of culturally sensitive targeted prevention and early intervention strategies and ongoing commitment to building mental health literacy in the wider community What Are the Implications for Practice?: The information from the study can be adapted for quality improvement and culturally responsive practicesThe strategies for effective service delivery drawn by this paper can be a comprehensive resource tool for mental health professionals, organisations and policymakersThe findings imply that CALD mental health service users and their families will likely benefit from improved service assessment and quality of mental health care and equity when MHNs undertake cultural competence training and bring that into their practice. Introduction: Victoria is one of the most multicultural states in Australia. Many CALD communities in Victoria may have encountered complicated migration journeys and complex life stressors during their initial settlement, leading to adverse mental health concerns. This diversity necessitates public policy settings to ensure equity and access in health services planning and delivery. While the MH policies and services take cultural diversity into account, there needs to be more implementation of those components of MH policies that relate to the particular needs of various CALD communities in Victoria. Even though mental health services prevent and address mental health issues, many barriers can impair CALD community access and utilisation of mental health services. Furthermore, the recent Royal Commission inquiry into the Victorian Mental Health system drives a renewed policy imperative to ensure meaningful engagement and cultural safety of all people accessing and utilising mental health services (Department of Health, 2023). Aim: This study focused on the perspectives of people from CALD communities in Victoria regarding their mental health service needs, understandings of and experiences with mental health services to prepare an education package for mental health nurses as part of a larger multi‐method research project. Method: A qualitative descriptive design was used to collect and analyse the perspectives of 21 participants in Victoria, using telephone interviews, followed by thematic analysis. Results: The themes and sub‐themes identified were: Settling issues; Perceptions of understanding of mental health issues (help‐seeking attitudes toward mental health issues; the need for CALD community education); perceived barriers to accessing and utilising mental health services in Victoria (socio‐cultural and language barriers; stigma, labelling and discrimination; knowledge and experience of accessing health facilities); experience with mental health services and professionals. Discussion: Community participation, mental health professional education and robust research regarding the mental health needs of CALD people are some of the recommended strategies to improve access and utilisation of mental health services in Victoria. Implications for practice: The current study can contribute to the existing knowledge, understanding, practice and quality improvement as it vividly portrays the issues of various CALD communities in Victoria. The findings of this study imply that CALD MH service users and their families are likely to benefit in terms of improved service assessment and quality of MH care and equity when MHNs undertake CC training and bring that into their practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accessible Summary: What is known on the subject?: Mental health nursing staff may experience psychological stress and burnout. Exercise provision for mental health staff may improve staff physical and mental wellbeing and mitigate against psychological burnout.Existing research suggests the provision of exercise equipment for mental health nursing staff may improve staff attitudes towards physical activity and staff confidence in motivating physical activity amongst patient groups they care for, although more research is needed, and research investigating the attitudes of mental health staff towards such initiatives is warranted. What this paper adds to existing knowledge?: Access to fitness facilities in the workplace for mental health staff was endorsed.Logistical and practical concerns (i.e. shower access, time) were noted as barriers to implementation of fitness facilities in the workplace for staff use.Mental health staff expressed desire to have access to varied gym equipment at work What are the implications for practice?: The introduction of fitness facilities in the workplace environment for staff use was actively endorsed by mental health professionals, suggesting such initiatives may be warranted in mental health settings. However, barriers to successful implementation were noted and are worth considering in preparation for trialling provision of exercise equipment for staff use. Introduction: Exercise equipment for mental health staff may improve staff wellbeing, mitigate against stress and improve staff attitudes towards physical activity. This said, there is a lack of researching investigating the attitudes of mental health staff towards the provision of fitness facilities in the workplace. Aim: The study investigated staff attitudes towards being offered exercise bikes in the workplace. Method: Three focus groups and one individual interview were conducted with 12 healthcare professionals. Data were subject to a thematic analysis. Results: Three themes were identified. (1) 'This sounds like a good idea', which reflected positive views in the provision of exercise in the workplace for staff use. (2) 'I'm not sure it would work because ...', which reflected implementation concerns including not having access to shower facilities and time constraints. (3) 'Balancing choice', which reflected participant's desire to have access to varied gym equipment. Discussion: The introduction of fitness facilities in the workplace for staff use was endorsed. However, implementation barriers were noted. Implications for Practice: This research provides justification for the exploration of the feasibility and benefits of providing exercise equipment for mental health staff in the workplace but presents implementation barriers that are worth considering before trialling provision of exercise equipment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accessible Summary: What is known on the subject?: Coercive measures represent an ethical conflict because they limit the person's freedom, compromising their personal autonomy, self‐determination and fundamental rights.The reduction of the use of coercive measures implies not only regulations and mental health systems, but also cultural aspects, such as societal beliefs, attitudes, and values.There is evidence about the professionals' views on coercion in acute mental health care units and community settings, but they remain unexplored in inpatient rehabilitation units. What the paper adds to existing knowledge?: The knowledge about coercion varied from not knowing at all the meaning of the word, to a proper description of the phenomenon.Coercive measures are considered a necessary evil or normalized in mental health care and considered implicit to daily practice. What are the implications for practice?: The perceptions and attitudes towards coercion might be influenced by the knowledge about the phenomenon. Training of mental health nursing staff in non‐coercive practice could help professionals to detect, be conscious towards, and question coercive measures, thus orienting them to the effective implementation of interventions or programmes with evidenced effectiveness to reduce them. Introduction: Creating a therapeutic and safe milieu with the minimum coercive measures requires knowing professionals' perceptions and attitudes towards coercion, but they remain unexplored in medium and long‐stay inpatient psychiatric rehabilitation units. Aim: To explore the knowledge, perception and experience of coercion among nursing staff at a rehabilitation medium‐stay mental health unit (MSMHU) in Eastern Spain. Method: Qualitative phenomenological study including 28 face‐to‐face, semi‐structured interviews based on a script. Data were analysed using content analysis. Results: Two main themes were found: (1) therapeutic relationship and treatment in the MSMHU, which included three subthemes: qualities of the professionals for building the therapeutic relationship; perceptions about the persons admitted to the MSMHU; views of the therapeutic relationship and treatment in the MSMHU; (2) Coercion at the MSMHU, comprising five subthemes: professional knowledge; general aspects; emotional impact of coercion; opinions; alternatives. Discussion: Coercive measures are often normalized in mental health care and considered implicit to daily practice. A proportion of participants who did not know what coercion is. Implications for Practice: Knowledge about coercion might influence attitudes towards coercion. Mental health nursing staff could benefit from formal training in non‐coercive practice, facilitating the operative implementation of effective interventions or programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accessible Summary: What Is Known on the Subject?: The decision to apply for disability benefits may be an important breakthrough in the life of people with severe mental illness.The literature regarding the process of applying for mental health disability benefits is scarce. What the Paper Adds to Existing Knowledge?: This study is, to the best of our knowledge, the first to fully describe the experience of submitting a claim for mental health disability benefits, as experienced by those diagnosed with severe mental illness.The process of applying for recognition of a mental health disability has three chronological stages—before the claim submission, during the claims process and after recognition.Clients approach the process without any prior knowledge, and therefore they need professional help when submitting their claim.A deterioration in clients' mental health prompts them to apply.A lack of trust in the system affects the application decision/process.The medical committee hearing is described as a complex and multifaceted experience.Clients reported being extensively preoccupied with stigma throughout the process. What Are the Implications for Practice?: Professional assistance throughout the claims process is a key factor with the potential to change clients' experience of the entire process.It is important to educate mental health nurses about the disability applicating process.Mental health professionals are encouraged to be mindful of the facilitating/hindering mechanisms that are dominant at each stage of the process.There is a need for liaising with relevant agencies that act as advocates for those diagnosed with a mental health illness. Introduction: The decision to apply for disability benefits may be an important breakthrough in the life of those diagnosed with severe mental illness (SMI). Nevertheless, the literature regarding the application process is scarce. Aim: The aim of the study was to explore how people who receive mental health disability benefits retrospectively perceive the process of applying for and receiving these benefits. Methods: Twenty‐four in‐depth qualitative interviews were conducted with people whose mental health disability was recognized in the past few years. Results: Analysis revealed three themes describing the process's chronological stages: Before submitting the claim (from deterioration to trust), during the claim process (from bureaucracy to understanding), after receiving recognition (from stigma to gratitude). Each stage includes facilitating factors (e.g. encouragement from professionals) and hindering factors (e.g. stigma, lack of knowledge and trust). Discussion: This is the first study to fully describe the experience of applying for mental health disability benefits, as experienced by clients. The decision to apply is perceived as complex and difficult. Although clients are extensively preoccupied with stigma throughout the process, they are able to express gratitude for the opportunities made available to them. Implications: Professional assistance throughout the claim is a key factor with the potential to change clients' experience of the entire process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accessible Summary: What is known on the subject?: The impacts of racism on health are well documented and are greater for mental than for general health.Mental health professionals are well positioned to help dismantle racism and structural barriers compromising optimal patient care. What the paper adds to existing knowledge: We describe a systematic and orderly way to identify factors that contribute to entrenching racism as the status quo or that help to uproot it.By incorporating a racial equity lens, we can better understand daily racism and inform the optimal antiracist actions most relevant to an inpatient psychiatric setting. What are the implications for practice?: Our two‐domain/six‐theme model may serve as a rubric for individuals to engage in structured self‐reflection, for organizations in auditing or programmatic evaluation, or as scaffolding for difficult but frequently elided conversations.The unique strengths of a mental health environment can be harnessed toward the elimination of racism and racist practices in clinical care and in the workplace Introduction: It is well documented that racism plays a role in health care access and outcomes. However, discussions about racism in the inpatient psychiatric workplace are generally avoided. To address this gap, we incorporated a racial equity perspective into a qualitative study to better understand daily racism, its impact on patients and staff, and to inform optimal antiracist actions most relevant to inpatient psychiatric settings. Aim/Question: We sought to identify factors that may contribute to or deter from racism to inform interventions to sustain a psychologically supportive environment for patients and staff. Methods: We conducted semistructured interviews using a purposive sample of 22 individuals in an acute child psychiatric inpatient service. We analysed transcripts using thematic analysis guided by a constructivist grounded theory conceptual framework. Results: We identified two countervailing processes: (1) Entrenching—factors that sustain or increase racism: Predisposing, Precipitating, and Perpetuating and (2) Uprooting—factors that rectify or reduce racism: Preventing, Punctuating, and Prohibiting. We organized each of the elements into a '6P' model along a temporal sequence around sentinel racist events. For each of the six components we describe: Contributing Factors, Emotional Reactions, and Behavioural Responses as reported by participants. Implications for Practice: Identifying factors that entrench or uproot racism can inform specific steps to improve the care of all children and families on an inpatient child psychiatry unit. The two‐domain/six‐theme model we developed can serve as a rubric for individuals or milieu‐based inpatient settings serving patients of any age to engage in structured self‐reflection, auditing, program evaluation, or as scaffolding for difficult but frequently elided conversations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accessible summary: What is known on the subject?: Frontline forensic mental health staff often face challenges when providing recovery‐orientated care, as they must balance between caring for the forensic psychiatric patient and at the same time ensuring safety and security for all other patients and staff at the ward.Research shows that balancing between care and custody in everyday clinical practice is possible, but more practical nursing studies showing ways of balancing power relations are needed to guide clinical practice.Online video games are increasingly recognized as promising new tools to promote social relations, establish competencies and re‐articulate power relations in therapeutic environments. What the paper adds to existing knowledge?: This paper provides insights into how using online video gaming interventions may influence the establishment of social power relations of staff and forensic psychiatric patients. It adds to existing research by providing a conceptual way to study and understand how mental health nurses may balance between care and custody, delivering care to accommodate patients' needs without compromising safety and security at the ward.This study answers a call in current research by providing qualified knowledge regarding the use of online video gaming to build and sustain therapeutic relations in mental health care. What are the implications for practice?: Our paper suggests that balancing between care and custody is possible by using online video gaming interventions in forensic psychiatry. It moreover provides practice‐close knowledge that may inspire and guide clinical mental health nurses to further develop online video gaming interventions in mental health care for the benefit of their patients. Introduction: In recovery‐oriented care, forensic psychiatric nurses must engage in care relationships with forensic psychiatric patients (FPs) whilst focussing on ward security. Online video games (OVGs) may provide a platform for negotiating power and social relations. Studies showing how OVG interventions may influence power balances in forensic psychiatric care are needed to guide clinical practice. Aim: Our aim was to study how power relations were articulated between FPs and staff in an OVG intervention in a Danish forensic psychiatric ward. Method: Data consist of three months of observational data and interviews with three staff members and six patients. We used sociologist Pierre Bourdieu's framework of field, power and capital to analyze data. Results: The OVG intervention consisted of two power fields, "in‐game" and "over‐game." In‐game concerned the practice of gaming. Over‐game described the organization of the gaming intervention. Specific logics, skills and symbolic capitals drove power in each field. Discussion: Power in‐game was open to FPs and staff, leading to symmetric power relations. Power over‐game was open to staff only, resulting in asymmetrical power relations. Implications for practice: Online video game interventions may facilitate power balancing in forensic psychiatry. These insights may guide the development of new OVG interventions for patients and nurses in mental health care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accessible Summary: What is known on the subject: ●Expert by Experience participation in mental health services is embedded in mental health policy in many countries. The negative attitudes of nurses and other health professionals to consumer participation poses a significant obstacle to this policy goal.●Involving mental health Experts by Experience in the education of nursing students demonstrates positive attitudinal change. What the paper adds to existing knowledge: ●The paper presents perspectives from Experts by Experience about the unique knowledge and expertise they derive from their lived experience of mental distress and mental health service use. As a result, they can make a unique and essential contribution to mental health nursing education. They utilize this knowledge to create an interactive learning environment and encourage critical thinking.●The international focus of this research enriches understandings about how Experts by Experience might be perceived in a broader range of countries. What are the implications for practice: ●Mental health policy articulates the importance of service user involvement in all aspects of mental health service delivery. This goal will not be fully achieved without nurses having positive attitudes towards experts by experience as colleagues.●Positive attitudes are more likely to develop when nurses understand and value the contribution experts by experience bring by virtue of their unique knowledge and expertise. This paper provides some important insights to achieving this end. Introduction: Embedding lived experience in mental health nursing education is increasing, with research findings suggesting the impact is positive. To date, research has primarily targeted the perspectives of nursing students and academics from the health professions. Aim: To enhance understanding of the unique knowledge and expertise experts by experience contribute to mental health nursing education. Methods: Qualitative exploratory research methods were employed. In‐depth individual interviews were conducted with experts by experience who delivered a coproduced learning module to nursing students in Europe and Australia. Results: Participants described their unique and essential contribution to mental health nursing education under four main themes: critical thinking, beyond textbooks; interactive and open communication; understanding personal recovery; and mental health is health. Conclusions: These findings present an understanding of the unique knowledge and expertise Experts by Experience contribute to mental health education not previously addressed in the literature. Appreciating and respecting this, unique contribute is necessary as Expert by Experience contributions continue to develop. Implications for Practice: Mental health services purport to value service user involvement. Identifying and respecting and valuing the unique contribution they bring to services is essential. Without this understanding, tokenistic involvement may become a major barrier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accessible Summary: What is known on the subject?: Previous research reports that people in homelessness have poor physical and mental health and are excluded from society with risk for loneliness and social exclusion.Women in homelessness face particularly vulnerable circumstances with significant risks of harm. What the paper adds to existing knowledge?: Feelings of having a home is a basis for meeting physical, psychosocial, and existential needs related to health.Being involved in authentic relationships and caring for others gives women in homelessness a sense of worth.To be accepted by others and feeling like an equal was important for experiences of preserved dignity. What are the implications for practice?: Nurses need to recognize and support women in homelessness for their capacity to heal and to experience health.To regard women in homelessness as active health‐seekers, instead of passive victims, can improve women's experiences of care provided by mental health professionals.Nurses can promote health by regarding women as resourceful and active, despite the fact that they live in homelessness. Introduction: Mental health issues are common among women in homelessness, alongside undertreated chronic physical conditions leading to serious and unnecessary complications. Even though homelessness and risks of impaired health have been researched, broader perspectives of health are absent. Aim: To describe reflections on health among women with experiences of homelessness. Method: We conducted 13 interviews with women in homelessness using researcher‐driven photograph elicitation. Together with an advisory board of women with lived experience of homelessness, researchers were guided by the DEPICT model for collaborative data analysis and performed a thematic analysis. Findings: Women with experiences of homelessness emphasized three main resources for achieving health and well‐being: feelings of having a home, being involved in authentic relationships and experiences of preserved dignity. Implication for practice: Healthcare needs to integrate the perceived resources for health and well‐being when caring for women in homelessness. It is imperative since women will return to the healthcare setting only if they feel safe and secure, and only if dignity is preserved or restored. The results promote utilization of an integrative nursing approach; understanding that the health of women in homelessness is inseparable from their environment and social determinants for health, such as housing and social integration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accessible Summary: What is known on the subject?: In the initial months of the pandemic, there was no significant increase in demand for mental health servicesDuring the pandemic, there was an increase in people reporting an increase in suicidal thoughts.Understanding of the experience of seeking help for self‐harm during lockdown is lacking, in terms of availability and accessibility of support services What the paper adds to existing knowledge?: People who self‐harm found that their support structures were significantly impacted by lockdownLockdown presented relational difficulties for people who self‐harm What are the implications for practice?: Learning about the experience of receiving support from mental health liaison services during lockdown from a first‐hand perspective is essential to improving the provision of these services in the future.In times of national crisis, services should be prepared to support clients via alternative means including telephone and online.Public facing messages about service availability should be carefully expressed to minimize misunderstandings. Introduction: National lockdown caused disruption to health services and third‐sector organizations offering support to people who self‐harm. Early reports suggested self‐harm‐related hospital attendances declined. Lack of knowledge related to the availability and accessibility of support provisions for people who self‐harm warrants exploration into how they experienced help‐seeking during lockdown. Aims: This study aimed to explore the experiences of people who self‐harm and perspectives on help‐seeking. Method: We conducted a qualitative study based on telephone and email interviews with 14 people who self‐harm in England. Results: Participants identified challenges to coping with life in lockdown, emphasizing the role of self‐harm. Help‐seeking was impeded by feeling like a burden and potential for spreading the virus. People who self‐harm exercised self‐reliance in response to "stay home" messaging, but some may have struggled without formal support. Online support served an important role in continuity of care during lockdown but could widen inequalities from limited resources and access. Implications for practice: Helping mental health liaison nurses to understand the experiences of people who self‐harm during lockdown is critical to providing continuing support to this population. Services should consider how and when they communicate changes to their provisions to the public, and the impact this will have on those in need of support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accessible Summary: What is known on the subject?: To date, the majority of the research regarding innovative psychosocial interventions in psychiatry focuses upon the development and effectiveness of the interventions. Despite the fact that these are important clinical and scientific contributions, only a small percentage of the evidence‐based interventions reach clinical practice.Cognitive Adaptation Training (CAT) is an effective psychosocial intervention to increase daily functioning and cognitive functioning in people diagnosed with severe mental illness (SMI) in inpatient and outpatient psychiatric care.Despite knowledge on the intervention's effectiveness, systematic use of CAT in the daily routine of mental health nurses is insufficient. What the paper adds to existing knowledge?: To date, no research is available that describes the factors associated to the implementation of CAT from a nursing perspective.This research also adds to the literature on rehabilitation in people diagnosed with SMI in an inpatient setting.The results contribute to the science of implementing interventions in long‐term psychiatric care and may help future interventions in their implementation process. What are the implications for practice?: This study highlights that multiple factors need to be considered when implementing an intervention in routine care and that it is a complicated process.Future implementation initiatives require ongoing training and supervision of CAT specialists, appointment of local champions to increase commitment among nursing staff and inclusion and commitment of management to overcome organizational barriers.Without acknowledging the presence of barriers to implementation and considering strategies to overcome these barriers, sustainable implementation is likely to be unsuccessful. Introduction: Evidence‐based interventions in psychiatry often fail to reach clinical practice. Cognitive Adaptation Training (CAT) is an evidence‐based psychosocial intervention that aims to improve daily functioning of people diagnosed with a severe mental illness. Implementation of CAT remains challenging, despite demonstrated effectiveness. Aim: Identifying facilitators and barriers of CAT on the intervention, nursing, and organizational levels, and investigating relationships between capability, opportunity, motivation, and appraisal using the COM‐B model. Method: The Measurement Instrument for Determinants of Innovations and CAT‐specific questions were administered to 46 nurses. The relationship among capability, opportunity, motivation and appraisal was calculated using the Pearson's r correlation coefficient. Results: Nine barriers (mostly organizational level) and 13 facilitators (mostly intervention and nursing level) were identified. Significant moderate correlations were found between capability and opportunity, capability and motivation, capability and appraisal and a strong correlation between motivation and appraisal. Discussion: The results suggest that barriers at the organizational level should be removed and facilitators at intervention and nursing levels may be exploited to improve implementation. Implications for practice: Future implementation initiatives require ongoing training and supervision of CAT specialists, appointment of local champions to increase commitment among nursing staff and inclusion and commitment of management to overcome organizational barriers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accessible Summary: What is known on the subject?: Family‐focused interventions in Adult Mental Health Services (AMHS) address the needs of families where a parent is diagnosed with a mental illness. One of these interventions is the "Let's Talk about Children" programme (Let's Talk) (Solantaus & Toikka, 2006 International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, 8(3), 37).There is limited implementation knowledge on family‐focused interventions.A body of research to better understand the transfer of evidence‐based interventions into everyday practice has identified multiple influencing elements. The Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) has combined these known elements from research into five domains of influence.Elements that influence the implementation of evidence‐based practice are inter‐related and need to be understood in combination.Understanding different stakeholder perspectives on implementation in real‐world settings helps to understand uptake, challenges and opportunities. What the paper adds to existing knowledge?: As the first study to document leadership's perspectives of implementing Let's Talk, this paper contributes to the evidence base on their role in implementing family‐focused practice models in mental health.There are specific roles of leadership that need to be addressed to support implementing Let's Talk in changing environments.Leadership's knowledge of Let's Talk and approach to change influences implementation.Questions are raised about the role the readiness of the parent and the impact that the dynamic process between the practitioner and parent has on implementing Let's Talk. What are the implications for practice?: Engaging leadership needs to address the influence of their different organizational roles in shaping implementation for Let's Talk.Further research is needed to understand the dynamic process between parent and practitioner that influences readiness for trialling Let's Talk. Introduction: Different stakeholder's perspectives are needed to understand challenges and opportunities in implementing and sustaining evidence‐based practices (EBP) in real‐world settings. Aim/Question: To identify leadership perspectives on key elements influencing the process of implementation of Let's Talk about Children (Let's Talk), a family‐focused practice for practitioners working with parents diagnosed with a mental illness. Method: Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with 16 service managers and implementation leads, to establish their views on key elements influencing implementation of Let's Talk during a randomized controlled trial. A thematic analysis applied both inductive and deductive approaches, using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). Results: Impacts to effective translation to practice were grouped into three broad themes with eight subthemes: inner and outer setting impacting organization, leadership affecting readiness and parent and practitioner readiness. Discussion: The findings suggest that specific roles for leadership are vital to implementation within an environment of constant change, and more attention is needed to understand the dynamics of parent and practitioner readiness for delivering Let's Talk. Implications for practice: Different leadership roles need to be engaged to sustain Let's Talk in changing real‐world environments. The dynamic processes between parent and practitioner are suggested to influence readiness and need further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accessible summary: What is known on the subject?: Recurrent depressive episodes involve significant morbidity, suicide risk and recurrent hospitalizations.In both major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder, there are significant impairments in functioning following resolution of acute symptoms. What this paper adds to existing knowledge?: This paper provides an in‐depth qualitative understanding of the subjective experience of cognitive impairment following a depressive episode in a recurrent mood disorder.It identifies descriptions of two types of experience (being stuck and being preoccupied with one's thoughts) that led to impairments in concentration, memory, organization and decision‐making. What are the implications for practice?: Mental health nurses need to develop an awareness of the impact of cognitive difficulties in the process of recovery from recurrent mood disorders.Mental health nurses need to provide knowledgeable reassurance, information and interventions to people who experience cognitive difficulties to provide a framework of understanding that promotes recovery. Introduction: People who experience recurrent depressive episodes often have ongoing cognitive problems that impact on their functional recovery. These cognitive difficulties have been identified as impacting on social, interpersonal and occupational functioning and can result in vulnerability to relapse. Aim: The aim of this qualitative study was to explore participants' subjective experiences of cognitive impairment after discharge from mental health services following treatment for recurrent depression. Methods: The study was designed as a qualitative study in order to best capture participants' subjective experiences. Data were collected by semi‐structured interviews and were analysed using a process of thematic analysis. Results: Twenty participants took part in this study. All participants described experiences of either 1) "being stuck"; or 2) "being preoccupied with own thoughts"; however, all participants described the experiences in the third theme: "it stops you living to your potential." Implications for practice: In order to promote recovery in a meaningful way, mental health nurses need to provide information about and strategies for managing cognitive difficulties associated with recurrent mood disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accessible summary: What is known on the subject?: Nursing observations at night are conducted on psychiatric wards to ensure the safety and well‐being of patients as well as to reduce the risk of suicide or severe harm.To our knowledge, no studies have examined the lived experience of the psychiatric ward environment and of nursing observations at night. What does the paper add to existing knowledge?: The main complaint from patients was the constant interruption of their sleep, as most of the patients in this study were observed 2–4 times an hour. Their sleep was interrupted by (a) the light from torches shone into their faces by staff checking on their safety, (b) the noises produced by the opening and closing of bedroom/ward doors, and/or (c) staff talking to each other during the observation. Patients also reported that they found having somebody enter the room in the middle of the night intimidating and unsettling. What are the implications for practice?: Poor sleep has been associated with an increase in suicide risk and mental health problems.Identifying practices that promote sleep hygiene is vital.The study could be used to develop a Quality Improvement Project to improve patients' sleep and perhaps reduce duration of stay. Introduction: A fundamental component of nursing care is observations at night to ensure the well‐being of patients. However, there is no literature on the lived experience by inpatients of such observations or of the general environment of a psychiatric ward at night. Aim/Question: This study aims (a) to understand the lived experience of being an inpatient on a psychiatric ward at night with a focus on intermittent observations and (b) contribute to developing a tool to monitor the psychiatric ward environment for use in quality improvement projects. Method: Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with twelve inpatients from five psychiatric wards who had experienced intermittent observations at night. These interviews were subsequently transcribed and analysed using content analysis. Results: Environmental disturbances including light and noise, invasion of privacy and safety considerations on the ward all contributed to sleep disturbance. The unintended consequences of disturbances caused by intermittent night observations, and by staff in general and other patients formed the core of the inpatients' experience. We developed a clinical tool that could be used to identify the factors that are relevant on an individual ward. Discussion: Participants interviewed unanimously agreed that poor sleep quality had a significant negative impact on their psychological and social well‐being. These were discussed in relation to the environment and the experience of observations at night. Implications for nursing practice: Deprivation of inpatients' sleep is currently under‐reported, and the usefulness of intermittent observations at night in psychiatric wards is questioned. Much could be done to adjust the environment at night to support quality sleep and improve psychiatric symptoms. This paper aims to highlight the lived experience of patients to help bring improvements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accessible summary: What is known on the subject: Alcohol addiction is manifested by periods of abstinence and relapse in which the individual returns to previous problematic alcohol use. This may lead to unstable and stressful routines for the family and for women who live with a spouse diagnosed with an AUD.AUD may mentally and physically affect women living with a spouse diagnosed with AUD with respect to relapse. However, most studies have focused on the influence of AUD in general, and the way they cope with it; few have dealt with the experience of relapse as a distinctive stage. What the paper adds to existing knowledge: Women's experiences of their spouses' relapses are embedded within their broader life experience in the shadow of alcohol addiction.The pattern of transitions from closeness to distance in the ways women think, feel and actively respond to their spouses' relapses shows similarities with the ways in which individuals cope with repeated trauma. This helps relate these women's experiences of their spouses' repeated relapses to the potential complex trauma these women experience and leads to a better understanding of the internal emotional dynamics of these women's behavioural patterns. What are the implications for practice: These women need a therapeutic solution that can help them cope with longstanding emotional burdens.Therapists should be sensitive to the complexity of their experience. When relevant, therapy should be based on therapeutic strategies from trauma practice, along with Alcohol Behavioural Couples Therapy that can reinforce the couple's mutual efforts to achieve sobriety or reduce AUD severity Introduction: Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is manifested by periods of remission and relapse which can serve as a source of continuous stressors on the individuals and family. Women living with a spouse diagnosed with AUD can be mentally and physically affected by this behaviour. Most studies have focused on the general influence of AUD on these women and their attempts to cope with AUD; there are scant data on the influences of relapse as a distinctive stage. Aim: To better understand how women whose spouses are diagnosed with AUD experience their relapses. Method: A qualitative‐naturalistic approach was implemented. Semi‐structured, in‐depth interviews were conducted with 12 women whose spouses were diagnosed with AUD. Results: Content analysis revealed three main categories representing the transitions from: a) ignorance to realization, b) emotional opposition to acceptance and c) activity to inactivity. Each category reflects one cognitive, emotional or behavioural dimension of this experience. The overarching theme emerged as shifts from closeness to distance in the way these women think, feel and actively respond to their spouse's relapses and addiction. Discussion: The shift from closeness to distance as manifested by the three transitions is argued to reflect the ways these women experience and cope with the chronic nature of AUD. It is suggested that this experience parallels the phenomenology of symptoms of complex trauma. Implications for practice: Nurses should be alert to the potential accumulative stressors experienced by these women and implement intervention strategies developed in the trauma field in addition to Alcohol Behavioural Couples Therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accessible Summary: What is known on the subject?: Recovery‐oriented studies show that the quality of the professional relationship plays an essential role in the recovery from mental illness. Within mental health care in general, previous studies show that helpful professional relationships are characterized by several reciprocal aspects, such as friendship resemblance and self‐disclosure.The literature is scarce on in‐depth explorations of professional relationships within the often long‐lasting and intimate help context of institutional supportive housing. Explorations of staff members' experiences are absent. The scientific rationale of this study was to expand the current knowledge about professional relationships in mental health care by exploring staff members' descriptions of helpful professional relationships in supportive housing institutions. What this paper adds to existing knowledge: The study shows that helpful relationships may involve staff experiences of reciprocity in terms of both a two‐way influence between staff and residents and a reciprocal gain from being part of the helpful relationships.A conceptualization of reciprocity that complements existing concepts is suggested and connected to a "good match" between staff and residents. What are the implications for practice?: When support and care are intended to be provided within a dyadic relationship, both parties' preferences should be considered when pairing service users and professionals.Practitioners should get involved in ways that open up for being influenced and inspired by the service user's characteristics, such as personality and attitude. Furthermore, they should dare to enjoy and make use of the company of the service user in ways that promote multifaceted reciprocity. Introduction: In the aftermath of the deinstitutionalization in western countries, new community‐based mental health services have been established. An essential object of studies in this new institutional landscape has been helpful professional relationships, but we still lack knowledge about helpful relationships in community‐based institutional supportive housing. Aim: To explore how staff members describe their relationships with residents who have identified them as helpful. Methods: Qualitative interviews with nine staff members were analysed using thematic analysis. Results: "Reciprocity" was identified as the main theme, and two subthemes were developed: "Something influential about the resident" and "Value for the staff member." Discussion: The findings are discussed and related to existing conceptualizations of reciprocity in professional relationships, and an additional conceptualization is suggested. Implications for practice: To promote reciprocity, managers should consider both parties' personal preferences when matching professionals and service users. Further, professionals should get involved in ways that open up for being influenced and inspired by several of the service user's characteristics. They should allow themselves to enjoy the company of the service user in ways that promote multifaceted reciprocity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accessible summary: What is known on the subject?: There have been some studies on the experience and community life of mental health clients receiving integrated community mental health service (ICMHS).Evaluation of ICMHS suggests that the service could have positive clinical and social outcomes, but the results are inconclusive. What does the paper add to existing knowledge?: Research studies have focused on clients and/or staff of the ICMHS, while in this study, the experiences and perspectives of family members are also explored. More comprehensive knowledge about the work for, and community life of, people previously under the services of ICMHS is added to the existing knowledge.This study found that with "timely support" and "family presence," people who had received the services of ICMHS continued to engage in more social activities ("expanding social networks"), had "better family relationships," were "letting go" of thinking too much and more able to relax, and had "better self‐efficacy and self‐caring" in the community.Professional contact after ICMHS through continuous conversations (e.g. home visits and follow‐up calls) and social activities are essential for both clients and their families to carry on living with the illness.Timely support, family presence, support to family members in the community and better social networks are key experiences of ICMHS clients. What are the implications for practice?: Although the ICMHS' resources are limited, better promotion is urgently needed for the public to realize the services and to support mental health clients.Mental health professionals may develop practice models through exploratory and confirmatory factors analyses of the themes identified from this study as the outcome measures. The cost‐effectiveness of services and relapse rates over time should also be evaluated for future practice development.Further studies for practice on the difference that family support can make to the community life of former ICMHS clients are warranted. This may be achieved through research designs that compare people with, and without, family members. Introduction: More comprehensive understanding, from the experiences and multiple perspectives of the clients, families and staff, about the community life of former clients of the integrated community mental health service (ICMHS) is scarce. Aim: To explore the community life experiences of people after their discharge from the ICMHS. Method: A qualitative approach with an interpretative phenomenological analysis was utilized for this study. Data were collected through individual semi‐structured interviews of 37 participants, including people discharged from an Integrated Community Centre of Mental Wellness, their family members and staff members. Results: Six themes emerged from the analysis: "timely support," "family presence," "better family relationships," "expanding social networks," "letting go" and "better self‐efficacy and self‐care," under the main theme of "walking with the illness and life." Discussion: Over and after the ICHMS, with timely support and family presence, there was a positive trend in the experiences of clients in expanding social networks, having better family relationships, letting go of thinking too much and being more able to relax, and improving self‐efficacy and self‐caring. Implications for practice: The study provides a more comprehensive understanding of the experiences of clients, family and staff about the community life of people post‐ICMHS, providing insights and clearer directions for research and practice development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accessible summary: What is known on the subject?: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) has existed worldwide for nearly 80 years. ECT is a fast‐working and potentially life‐saving treatment, but it is considered controversial. Although frequently mentioned, stigmatization in relation to ECT has not been systematically explored so far. What this paper adds to existing knowledge?: This paper provides new insight into both recipient and expert perspectives on ECT. It identifies several issues of stigmatization related to ECT and suggests that full recovery following ECT might be jeopardized due to both stigmatization and self‐stigmatization. The study suggests that most of the stigmatizing behaviors can be ascribed to (a lack of) available knowledge of and experience with ECT. What are the implications for practice?: Being aware of and listening to the needs of former ECT‐recipients seems essential to increase their treatment options and support care as well as a will to prioritize this patient group. For example, by addressing the potential stigma issues in follow‐up groups and helping to distribute sober, factual information about ECT in society. Providing written information and psychoeducation for patients and relatives before, during, and after ECT, in addition to supporting active use of diaries, might be valuable remedies for helping patients feel adequately informed and able to accept the pros and cons of ECT during and after treatment period. Abstract: Introduction: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) has existed worldwide for nearly 80 years. Although fast‐working and potentially life‐saving treatment, ECT is regarded as a strongly controversial treatment and stigmatization is frequently mentioned in relation to it. However, no systematic research in this area has taken place so far. Aim: The aim of this qualitative study was to explore the experiences and attitudes of former recipients of ECT and of experts professionally involved with ECT to identify potential stigmatization. Method: Two focus groups, one comprising four recipients of ECT and the other seven professional experts, were conducted. Data from each focus group were analyzed separately using a framework‐analysis. Results: The analysis yielded three major themes for the first focus group interview: ambivalent attitudes, discrediting and exclusion, and survival strategies and three major themes for the second focus group interview: dramatic depictions of ECT, an overlooked and rare treatment, and anti‐stigmatization strategies. Discussion and implications for practice: Stigmatizing attitudes and behaviors in relation to ECT are closely related to one's personal and factual knowledge, and there is a great need for multi‐facetted approaches if social acceptance and recognition are to be achieved. This study provides new knowledge on a scarcely examined area while also introducing suitable methods for anti‐stigmatization and empowerment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accessible summary: What is known on the subject?: Restraint has negative psychological, physical and relational consequences for mental health patients and staff. Restraint reduction interventions have been developed (e.g., “Safewards”). Limited qualitative research has explored suggestions on how to reduce physical restraint (and feasibility issues with implementing interventions) from those directly involved. What does this paper add to existing knowledge?: This paper explores mental health patients’ and staff members’ suggestions for reducing physical restraint, whilst addressing barriers to implementing these. Findings centred on four themes: improving communication and relationships; staffing factors; environment and space; and activities and distraction. Not all suggestions are addressed by currently available interventions. Barriers to implementation were identified, centring on a lack of time and/or resources; with the provision of more time for staff to spend with patients and implement interventions seen as essential to reducing physical restraint. What are the implications for practice?: Improving communication and relationships between staff/patients, making staffing‐related changes, improving ward environments and providing patient activities are central to restraint reduction in mental healthcare. Fundamental issues related to understaffing, high staff turnover, and lack of time and resources need addressing in order for suggestions to be successfully implemented. Abstract: Introduction: Physical restraint has negative consequences for all involved, and international calls for its reduction have emerged. Some restraint reduction interventions have been developed, but limited qualitative research explores suggestions on how to reduce physical restraint (and feasibility issues with implementation) from those directly involved. Aims: To explore mental health patients’ and staff members’ suggestions for reducing physical restraint. Methods: Interviews were conducted with 13 inpatients and 22 staff members with experience of restraint on adult mental health inpatient wards in one UK National Health Service Trust. Results: Findings centred on four overarching themes: improving communication and relationships between staff/patients; making staff‐related changes; improving ward environments/spaces; and having more activities. However, concerns were raised around practicalities/feasibility of their implementation. Discussion: Continued research is needed into best ways to reduce physical restraint, with an emphasis on feasibility/practicality and how to make time in busy ward environments. Implications for Practice: Improving communication and relationships between staff/patients, making staffing‐related changes, improving ward environments and providing patient activities are central to restraint reduction in mental healthcare. However, fundamental issues related to understaffing, high staff turnover and lack of time/resources need addressing in order for these suggestions to be successfully implemented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accessible summary: What is known on the subject?: Medication does not always resolve a serious mood episode, and there is evidence that it needs to be combined with an evidence‐based psychotherapy to promote symptomatic and functional recovery.There is little known about what people with serious mood disorders want from mental health services to manage their mood. What the paper adds to existing knowledge?: Participants in this study wanted a framework other than the medical model for understanding and managing their mood.Their motivation to commence psychotherapy was based on a sense of having hit rock bottom and a need for understanding what was happening in order to better manage their mood. Introduction: There is little known about the motivations for people to participate in psychotherapy for depression. Aim: To explore why people, with a diagnosis of major depressive episode, chose to take part in a psychotherapy study and what they expected it to involve. Method: This was a qualitative study of participants' motivations and understandings of psychotherapy for depression. Data were collected using semi‐structured interviews and analysed using thematic analysis. Findings: Eight females and eight males with an age range from 21 years to 55 years were recruited. Three themes were identified that described why participants chose to participate in psychotherapy: medication was not enough, a turning point and making sense of experience. The participants chose to participate in psychotherapy after finding that medication was insufficient and this combined with a sense of crisis motivated them to engage in psychotherapy in order to learn to manage their mood differently. Discussion: The participants recognized that they wanted a framework other than a medical model with its reliance on medication, in order to make sense of their experiences and develop new self‐management strategies. Implications for Practice: Our study suggests that some people experiencing a serious mood disorder access psychotherapy after "hitting rock bottom" and finding insufficient help from medications. Mental health nurses need to be aware people do not always want a medical model approach to treatment of serious mood disorders and they need to provide the opportunity of engaging in a psychotherapeutic framework in order to better understand and manage their mood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accessible Summary: What is known on the subject?: The barriers and facilitators to incident reporting are becoming well known in general healthcare settings due to a large body of research in this area.At present, it is unknown if these factors also affect incident reporting in mental healthcare settings as the same amount of research has not been conducted in these settings. What the paper adds to existing knowledge: Some of the barriers and facilitators to incident reporting in mental healthcare settings are the same as general healthcare settings (i.e., learning and improvement, time and fear).Other factors appear to be specific to mental healthcare settings (i.e., the role of patient diagnosis and how incidents involving assault are dealt with). What are the implications for practice?: Interventions to improve incident reporting in mental healthcare settings may be adapted from general healthcare settings in some cases.Bespoke interventions for mental healthcare settings that focus specifically on violence and aggression should be co‐designed with patients and staff.Thresholds for incident reporting (i.e., what types of incidents will not be tolerated) need to be set, communicated and adopted Trust wide to ensure parity across staff groups and services. Introduction: Barriers and facilitators to incident reporting have been widely researched in general health care. However, it is unclear if the findings are applicable to mental health care where care is increasingly complex. Aim: To investigate if barriers and facilitators affecting incident reporting in mental health care are consistent with factors identified in other healthcare settings. Method: Data were collected from focus groups (n = 8) with 52 members of staff from across West London NHS Trust and analysed with thematic analysis. Results: Five themes were identified during the analysis. Three themes (a) learning and improvement, (b) time and (c) fear were consistent with the existing wider literature on barriers and facilitators to incident reporting. Two further themes (d) interaction between patient diagnosis and incidents and (e) aftermath of an incident—prosecution specifically linked to the provision of mental health care. Conclusions: Whilst some barriers and facilitators to incident reporting identified in other settings are also prevalent in the mental healthcare setting, the increased incidence of violent and aggressive behaviour within mental health care presents a unique challenge for incident reporting. Clinical implications: Although interventions to improve incident reporting may be adapted/adopted from other settings, there is a need to develop specific interventions to improve reporting of violent and aggressive incidents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accessible summary: What is known on the subject?: Several studies describe barriers and facilitators for implementing shared decision‐making in mental care, yet a deeper understanding of the meaning of shared decision‐making in this context is lacking.Shared decision‐making is aimed at facilitating patients' active participation in their care.Mental care is intended to empower the patients by increasing their responsibility and self‐awareness and helping them to use their own resources.Too much focus on the patients' independence, responsibility and choice may hinder the patients getting the help they need. What this paper adds to existing knowledge?: The meaning of SDM can be understood as a continuous relational process between the patients and MHCPs in search of dignified care.Practising shared decision‐making is a challenging process which requires the MHCPs to possess high professional competence. What are the implications for practice?: Mental healthcare professionals should be conscious of their own role in the asymmetrical power relationship in decision‐making and use their professional competence for their patients' benefit.Clinical supervision can be a tool for developing professional competence and is considered important when assisting mental healthcare professionals practising shared decision‐making for dignified care. Introduction: Several studies describe barriers and facilitators for implementing shared decision‐making in mental care. However, a deeper understanding of the meaning of shared decision‐making in this context is lacking. Shared decision‐making is aimed at facilitating patients' active participation in their care by placing them at the centre of care. Too much focus on the patients' autonomy may hinder them getting the help they need. A comprehensive understanding of shared decision‐making is needed for its implementation. Aim/research question: To interpret the meaning of shared decision‐making in mental care as perceived by patients and mental healthcare professionals. The research question was: What is the meaning of shared decision‐making in mental care? Method: A hermeneutic inductive design with a thematic interpretative analysis of data was performed from in‐depth interviews with 16 patients and multistage focus group interviews with eight mental healthcare professionals. Results: The overall theme being in a space of sharing decision‐making for dignified mental care was described by the three themes engaging in a mental room of values and knowledge, relating in a process of awareness and comprehension and responding anchored in acknowledgement. Discussion: Balancing the patients' need for assistance with autonomy, while safeguarding their dignity, is a challenging process requiring mental healthcare professionals to possess professional competence. Implications for practice: Organized professional development of the carers' professional competence is important to facilitate shared decision‐making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accessible Summary: What is known on the subject?: Consumer participation in mental health services is embedded in mental health policy in many countries. The negative attitudes of nurses and other health professionals to consumer participation poses a significant obstacle to this policy goalInvolving mental health "Experts by Experience" in the education of nursing students demonstrates positive attitudinal change What this paper adds to existing knowledge?: More detailed understanding of nursing students' experiences and perspectives about being taught mental health nursing by "Experts by Experience"An international focus, extending understandings about how Experts by Experience might be perceived in a broader range of countries What are the implications for practice?: Positive attitudes towards people labelled with mental illness are essential for quality nursing practiceNurses have an important leadership role in facilitating consumer participation within health services. It is critical that their attitudes are professional and optimistic. Introduction: Consumer participation is central to mental health policy. Negative attitudes of health professionals are barriers to realizing policy goals. Evidence suggests consumers (Experts by Experience) can influence positive attitudes in nursing students. Research in this area to date is limited and primarily from Australia and New Zealand. Aim: To enhance understanding of nursing students' perspectives and experiences of being taught mental health by an Expert by Experience. Method: A qualitative exploratory approach was used. Focus groups were conducted with nursing students from seven universities in Australia and Europe. Data were analysed thematically. Results: Student participants described how exposure to Experts by Experience challenged their views and attitudes and provided a mechanism for reflection, critique and change. The main theme "changing mindset" includes two subthemes: exposing stereotypes and reflection. Discussion: This unique international study demonstrates the capacity for Experts by Experience to contribute to positive attitudinal change towards mental illness in nursing students. This changed mindset must occur for policy goals to be realized. Implications for practice: Nurses in all areas of practice will work with people labelled with mental illness and experiencing mental distress. Overcoming stereotypes and adopting more positive attitudes is essential to deliver quality mental health care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accessible summary: What is known on the subject?: Advance care planning (ACP) in mental health is a useful tool to avoid human rights violations in mental health settings. However, ACP is not yet a reality in the Spanish context.The advance healthcare directive (AHD) is a document reflecting healthcare preferences, drafted within the framework of the ACP process, to be applied in situations in which an individual's legal capacity may be questionable.No study has explored the viewpoint of Spanish mental healthcare professionals towards AHDs in the mental health field. Considering their extensive use, further study of providers' knowledge and attitudes is warranted. What does the paper add to existing knowledge?: The study adds knowledge about the viewpoint of Spanish mental healthcare professionals towards the implementation of AHDs in their clinical practices.This study illuminates the prevailing paternalistic provider–user relationship as the main barrier surrounding AHD management in terms of decision‐making.Our findings support the need for broader awareness, staff training regarding the documentation, the conversation process and communication skills, and personalized assistance in the mental health services to implement AHDs in everyday practice. What are the implications for practice?: Advance healthcare directives are a recovery tool that offers major information regarding mental health user preferences. Although they pose challenges for clinical practice, AHDs should be incorporated into interventional mental health care.Obtaining up‐to‐date perspectives held by mental healthcare professionals regarding AHDs allows the administration to determine the aspects requiring reinforcement.The implementation of AHDs in the Spanish mental health system requires macro‐ and micro‐changes, both ethically and structurally, so that mental healthcare professionals relinquish their paternalistic approach and embrace new ways of relating to users. Introduction: An advance healthcare directive (AHD) is a written document that contains a patient‐in‐care's will and preferences concerning the treatment options available to them, should they lack decision‐making capacity. AHDs are completed within a broader framework known as advance care planning. No study has explored the viewpoint of Spanish mental healthcare professionals towards AHDs. Aim: To explore the viewpoint of mental health professionals towards the implementation of AHDs in mental health. Method: A qualitative study was conducted using semi‐structured interviews that were thematically analysed. Findings: Three main themes were identified: care planning culture; barriers for the practical management of AHDs; and reasons to not honour patient‐in‐care AHDs. Discussion: Professionals find it pragmatically difficult to stop applying traditional paternalistic practices. To implement AHDs, improving the knowledge and awareness of AHDs and management of non‐technical skills through training is required. Such training should include users and families and allow for compliance with United Nations requirements. Implications for practice: Advance healthcare directives offer important information regarding user preferences, although they pose challenges for practices. Acquiring an up‐to‐date perspective on the attitudes of professionals towards AHDs allows organizations to attend to particular aspects that require reinforcement. Wider awareness, staff training and new ways of relating to users are necessary to implement AHDs in Spanish context. Relevance statement: A better understanding of the attitudes of Spanish mental health professionals towards AHDs was achieved. Despite the implementation of AHDs being an important and potentially beneficial initiative, mental health professionals find many pragmatic issues that need addressing before AHDs become a reality in their clinical practice. Wider awareness, staff training, personalized assistance and new ways of relating to users are required to implement AHDs in everyday practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accessible summary: What is known on the subject?: Mental health nursing in the UK and other countries faces an acute workforce crisis.Safe staffing levels are called for, and in some jurisdictions have been legislated for.The evidence base linking staffing levels and patient outcomes is limited.Staffing levels are implicated in adverse experiences of service users and staff within mental health ward settings, and they might contribute to levels of violence and aggression and the application of restrictive practices, such as physical restraint but there is limited research evidence to support this.Programmes such as Safewards, No Force First, the Engagement Model and the Six Core Strategies can reduce the use of restrictive practices. What does this paper add to existing knowledge?: Staffing levels on acute mental health wards appeared crucial in the implementation of a restraint minimization project.Both staff and service users implicate insufficient staffing for deficiencies in the relational elements of care, such as lack of face‐to‐face contact between nurses and service users.Similarly, staffing levels are associated with perceived problems in the cause of violence and aggression and responses to it.Despite successes in minimizing restrictive practices in this project, difficulties implementing alternative forms of practice that would reduce use of physical restraint, such as de‐escalation, were also attributed to staffing levels.There is an irony that a project concerned with safety itself provoked concern over safe staffing levels. What are the implications for practice?: Efforts to reduce restrictive practices will be hampered without adequate staffing levels.Restrictive practices may justifyably be framed as an employment relations matter.Organisations and policy makers ought to address environmental, contextual and resourcing factors, rather than identify problems exclusively in terms of perceived aberrant behaviour of staff or service users. Introduction: Safe staffing and coercive practices are of pressing concern for mental health services. These are inter‐dependent, and the relationship is under‐researched. Aim: To explore views on staffing levels in a context of attempting to minimize physical restraint practices on mental health wards. Findings emerged from a wider data set with the broader aim of exploring experiences of a restraint reduction initiative. Methods: Thematic analysis of semi‐structured interviews with staff (n = 130) and service users (n = 32). Results: Five themes were identified regarding how staffing levels impact experiences and complicate efforts to minimize physical restraint. We titled the themes—"insufficient staff to do the job"; "detriment to staff and service users"; "a paperwork exercise: the burden of non‐clinical tasks"; "false economies"; and, "you can't do these interventions." Discussion: Tendencies detracting from relational aspects of care are not independent of insufficiencies in staffing. The relational, communicative and organizational developments that would enable reductions in use of restraint are labour intensive and vulnerable to derailment by insufficient and poorly skilled staff. Implications for practice: Restrictive practices are unlikely to be minimized unless wards are adequately staffed. Inadequate staffing is not independent of restrictive practices and reduces access to alternative interventions for reducing individuals' distress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accessible summary: What is known of the subject: Consumer participation in mental health services is an expectation articulated through mental health policy.Consumers as researchers could contribute significantly to mental health services. Barriers to participation are significant and limit consumer involvement. What the paper adds to existing knowledge: Enhanced understandings of collaborative relationships between consumer and nonconsumer researchers.Researchers from the health disciplines find value in consumer involvement in mental health research.These researchers can support and facilitate consumer research by being allies to consumer researchers. What are the implications for practice: Understanding the role of allies is necessary to strengthen their capacity to support consumer researchers.Involving consumers in mental health research is likely to lead to improved practice. Introduction: Australia and New Zealand mental health policy requires consumer participation in all aspects of mental health services. Systemic participation informs and improves the quality of mental health services. Collaboration with consumer researchers should be similarly required. Enhanced understandings of collaborations are needed. Aim: To enhance understanding of the perspectives and experiences of nonconsumer researchers in working collaboratively with consumers as researchers. Method: This qualitative exploratory study involved interviews with nonconsumer mental health researchers who have worked collaboratively with consumers in research. Interviews were conducted with participants from Australia and New Zealand. Results: "Allyship" emerged as a major theme. This describes nonconsumer researchers playing an actively supportive role to facilitate opportunities for the development and growth of consumer research roles and activities. Seven subthemes were identified: establishing and supporting roles, corralling resources, guiding navigation of university systems, advocacy at multiple levels, aspiring to coproduction and consumer‐led research, extending connections and partnerships, and desire to do better. Discussion: Allyship may have an important role to play in the broader consumer research agenda and requires further consideration. Implications for practice: Embedding meaningful consumer participation within mental health services requires active consumer involvement in research. Allies can play an important facilitative role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accessible summary: What is known on the subject?: Mental health nurses are affected by interpersonal, practice‐related and organizational factors that can increase workplace stress and reduce their physical and mental health and well‐being. Resilience programmes are a strength‐based preventative approach to supporting individuals to overcome workplace adversities. What the paper adds to existing knowledge?: This qualitative inquiry is the first study to report mental health nurses' perspectives and experiences on a workplace resilience programme. Strengthening mental health nurses' resilience through a resilience programme involved a process of understanding resilience, and applying resilience strategies such as positive self‐talk, managing negative self‐talk, detaching from stressful situations, being aware of and managing emotions, and showing more empathy, to address workplace challenges. To address the range of resources needed to support mental health nurses' resilience, a social–ecological approach to workplace resilience can be used to promote resource provision at individual, work unit, organizational and professional levels. What are the implications for practice?: Resilience programmes are one resource for addressing the impacts of workplace stressors on mental health nurses. Organizational barriers and risks to staff well‐being need to also be addressed to build a resilient workforce. Incorporating resilience strategies into clinical supervision or reflective practice models may help sustain beneficial outcomes following a resilience programme and support resilient practice. Abstract: Introduction: Mental health settings are potentially high‐stress workplaces that can lead to nurses' poorer health and well‐being. Resilience programmes are a strengths‐based preventative approach for promoting mental health and well‐being in the face of adversity; however, there is no prior research on mental health nurses' perspectives on resilience programmes. Aim: To explore the perspectives of mental health nurses participating in a mental health service‐initiated resilience programme (Promoting Adult Resilience). Method: An exploratory qualitative inquiry was undertaken. Multiple qualitative data: open‐ended responses and semi‐structured interviews and focus groups, were thematically analysed. Results: Twenty‐nine registered nurses from a metropolitan mental health service participated. Four main themes were as follows: being confronted by adversity; reinforcing understandings of resilience; strengthening resilience; and applying resilience skills at work. Discussion: This is the first study to report mental health nurses' perspectives on a resilience programme. Resilience programmes can help improve nurses' self‐efficacy and ability to realistically appraise stressful situations and to moderate their emotional responses to others. Implications for practice: It is recommended resilience programmes are provided to promote nurses' well‐being and resilient practices. To build a resilient workforce, the wider barriers and risks to staff well‐being need to be addressed at a unit, organizational and professional level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accessible summary: What is known on the subject?: In collaborative care models between psychiatry and general practice, mental health nurses are used as care managers who carry out the treatment of patients with anxiety or depression in general practice and establish a collaborating relationship with the general practitioner. Although the care manager is the key person in the collaborative care model, there is little knowledge about this role and the challenges involved in it. What this paper adds to existing knowledge?: Our study shows that before the CMs could start treating patients in a routine collaborative relationship with GPs, they needed to carry out an extensive amount of implementation work. This included solving practical problems of location and logistics, engaging GPs in the intervention, and tailoring collaboration to meet the GP’s particular preferences. Implementing the role requires high commitment and an enterprising approach on the part of the care managers. The very experienced mental health nurses of this study had these skills. However, the same expertise cannot be presumed in a disseminated model. What are the implications for practice?: When introducing new collaborative care interventions, the care manager role should be well defined and be well prepared, especially as regards the arrival of the care manager in general practice, and supported during implementation by a coordinated leadership established in collaboration between hospital psychiatry and representatives from general practice. Abstract: Introduction: In collaborative care models for anxiety and depression, the care manager (CM), often a mental health nurse, has a key role. However, the work and challenges related to this role remain poorly investigated. Aim: To explore CMs’ experiences of their work and the challenges they face when implementing their role in a collaborative care intervention in the Capital Region of Denmark. Methods: Interviews with eight CMs, a group interview with five CMs and a recording of one supervision session were analysed by thematic analysis. Results: The CM carried out considerable implementation work. This included finding suitable locations; initiating and sustaining communication with the GPs and maintaining their engagement in the model; adapting to the patient population in general practice; dealing with personal security issues, and developing supportive peer relations and meaningful supervision. Discussion: We compare our findings to previous studies of collaborative care and advanced nursing roles in general practice. The importance of organizational leadership to support the CM's bridge‐building role is emphasized. Implications for practice: The planners of new collaborative care interventions should not only focus on the CM's clinical tasks but also on ensuring the sufficient organizational conditions for carrying out the role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accessible summary What is known on the subject? There is consistent evidence that service users and carers feel marginalized in the process of mental health care planning., Mental health professionals have identified ongoing training needs in relation to involving service users and carers in care planning., There is limited research on the acceptability of training packages for mental health professionals which involve service users and carers as co-facilitators., What does this paper add to existing knowledge? A co-produced and co-delivered training package on service user- and carer-involved care planning was acceptable to mental health professionals., Aspects of the training that were particularly valued were the co-production model, small group discussion and the opportunity for reflective practice., The organizational context of care planning may need more consideration in future training models., What are the implications for practice? Mental health nurses using co-production models of delivering training to other mental health professionals can be confident that such initiatives will be warmly welcomed, acceptable and engaging., On the basis of the results reported here, we encourage mental health nurses to use co-production approaches more often., Further research will show how clinically effective this training is in improving outcomes for service users and carers., Abstract Background There is limited evidence for the acceptability of training for mental health professionals on service user- and carer-involved care planning. Aim To investigate the acceptability of a co-delivered, two-day training intervention on service user- and carer-involved care planning. Methods Community mental health professionals were invited to complete the Training Acceptability Rating Scale post-training. Responses to the quantitative items were summarized using descriptive statistics (Miles, ), and qualitative responses were coded using content analysis (Weber, ). Results Of 350 trainees, 310 completed the questionnaire. The trainees rated the training favourably (median overall TARS scores = 56/63; median 'acceptability' score = 34/36; median 'perceived impact' score = 22/27). There were six qualitative themes: the value of the co-production model; time to reflect on practice; delivery preferences; comprehensiveness of content; need to consider organizational context; and emotional response. Discussion The training was found to be acceptable and comprehensive with participants valuing the co-production model. Individual differences were apparent in terms of delivery preferences and emotional reactions. There may be a need to further address the organizational context of care planning in future training. Implications for practice Mental health nurses should use co-production models of continuing professional development training that involve service users and carers as co-facilitators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accessible summary What is known on the subject? The combination of coping with their mental health problems and caring for children makes parents vulnerable., Family-centred practice can help to maintain and strengthen important family relationships, and to identify and enhance the strengths of a parent with a mental illness, all contributing to the recovery of the person with the mental illness., What this paper adds to the existing knowledge? Taking the strength and the opportunities formulated by parents themselves as a starting point is fairly new., Parents with severe mental illness find strength for parenting in several ways. They feel responsible, and this helps them to stay alert while parenting, whereas parenthood also offers a basis for social participation through school contacts and the child's friendships., Dedication to the parent role provides a focus; parents develop strengths and skills as they find a balance between attending to their own lives and caring for their children; and parenting prompts them to find adequate sources of social support., In this study these strategies were found to be the fundamentals of recovery related to parenting., What are the implications for practice? Nurses can support and coach patients who are identified as parents, and self-chosen parenting related goals are set and addressed., A family-focused approach by nurses can be used to prevent problems for children and their families, identify their strengths as well as vulnerabilities, and address the challenges to build resilience., Abstract Introduction Understanding of the problems of parents with mental illness is growing. Gaining insight into strategies for parenting, while taking the opportunities formulated by these parents themselves as a starting point is fairly new. Question What are the strategies of parents with a mental illness to be successful? Method Experiences of 19 mothers and eight fathers with a mental illness were explored with in-depth interviews. Data were content analysed, using qualitative methods. Results Next to feelings of inadequacy, interviewees also describe how children enrich and structure their lives and are not only a burden but serve as distraction from problems. Developing activities that interest both child and parent provides avenues for emerging strength. Mental illness constrains fathers, but also gives opportunities to develop a meaningful relation with their children. Discussion Strategies like being fully dedicated to the parental role, finding a balance between attention for one's own life and parenting and finding adequate sources of support are found to be fundamental for recovery in the parent role. Implications for practice Peer groups can be of valuable help and mental health workers can support parents to set self-chosen parenting related goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]