Consumer and practitioner perceptions of the harm reduction approach in a community mental health setting.
Harm reduction in community mental health settings can be effective in engaging persons with co-occurring disorders in services. In this qualitative study, personal interviews and grounded theory methods were used to explore the experiences of 21 mental health practitioners and 15 consumers with co-occurring disorders at a community mental health housing program that uses harm reduction. Results indicate that while harm reduction enhanced therapeutic alliances, ethical and emotional tensions between practitioners and consumers regarding their views on self-determination and tolerance of drug-related behaviors were also evident. These tensions are explored and implications for practice and education are provided.
School of Social Work, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, MO 63103, USA. mancinim@slu.edu
Michael A
MA
Mancini
Wynter
W
Wyrick-Waugh
D000328:Adult; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003256:Community Participation; D015897:Comorbidity; D017831:Diagnosis, Dual (Psychiatry); D005260:Female; D040261:Harm Reduction; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010465:Perception; D017064:Process Assessment, Health Care; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D036301:Qualitative Research; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*