Working with families of patients within an adult mental health service: development of a programme model.
OBJECTIVE
In order to implement and sustain family intervention programmes in clinical settings, there is a need for an organizational change within routine clinical practice. The objective of this paper is to outline the idea behind the development of a programme for working with families of patients within an adult mental health service.


METHODS
Capacity building, project management and action research frameworks were the three theoretical frameworks used to inform the implementation of the programme within the mental health service. Extensive literature in the area of working with families informed the programme's content. Sutherland Mental Health Service in New South Wales is used as a model to show that organizational changes are needed to implement a 'family friendly' service.


RESULTS
The programme included two main components: (i) a service development component, (ii) a family engagement and support component. Description of the programme plan has been based on key objectives, strategies and activities for implementation at the service delivery level. Individual activities within the programme have achieved their goals. The rate of family contact within the service has doubled.


CONCLUSIONS
Issues regarding the effectiveness of such a programme, its limitations, as well as the nature of examining and evaluating such work were discussed. Becoming more 'family friendly' is a realistic goal for adult mental health services.
Mottaghipour
Yasaman
Y
Psychiatric Department, Shahid Beheshti Medical University, Tehran, Iran. yasamanm@parsonline.net
Woodland
Lisa
L
Bickerton
Annemaree
A
Sara
Grant
G
D000328:Adult; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017146:Models, Organizational; D009517:New South Wales; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D016730:Program Development