Background: Mental health services are increasingly being configured to reflect a commitment to the philosophy of recovery. In line with recovery principles, in 2010 a team comprising service users, family members, clinicians and academics co-developed two mental health information programmes [the EOLAS programmes] on recovery from mental health difficulties, firstly for users of services, and also for family members and significant others. To date over 800 service users and family members have participated in the programmes. Evaluations completed support the efficacy of the programmes to impact positively on psychosocial outcomes for service users and family members. Whilst 12 mental health services ahave incorporated EOLAS into their care provision, other services chose not to adopt, or if adopted, struggle to integrate into service delivery.
Aim: This research aims to identify processes through which the EOLAS programmes build and sustain capacity for collaborative education at organizational, team and individual level, and identify resources, actions and strategies necessary to support the integration and sustainability of the programmes within all mental health services.
Methodology: Action research, with a focus on participatory qualitative methods, provides the overarching framework for this project. The project will involve a series of work packages that will include: application for ethical approval; reviewing national and international literature; interviewing key stakeholders to establish barriers and enablers to the integration of the EOLAS programmes within services; interviewing past facilitators, participants (service users/family members) and other informants to identify long-term outcomes; and the compilation of a best practice framework, guide and video to inform the ongoing roll-out of EOLAS and help ensure the availability of EOLAS throughout all mental health services in the country.
Dissemination: To enhance translation at practice level and inform policy on systems change and service reform findings will be disseminated though multiple channels, including media.
