"Talking in a new way": older individuals' experiences of group work in an acute psychiatric ward.
Group work is frequently used in mental health, however qualitative studies on service-users' views are rare. Semistructured interviews explored 12 participants' experiences of a café-style social group and a mutual-aid group offered on an older persons psychiatric ward in Christchurch, New Zealand. The values of the strengths-based approach underpinning the groups were reflected back in the experience of an affirming environment, an exchange of strengths, and the capacity to change. The appeal of the café-style may be culturally specific to European women however, reinforcing the importance of an awareness of culture and diversity.
Psychiatric Service for the Elderly, The Princess Margaret Hospital, PO Box 800, Christchurch 8022, New Zealand. susan.gee@cdhb.govt.nz
Jennifer
J
Partington
Susan
S
Gee
Anne-Marie
AM
Leith
Matthew
M
Croucher
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006126:Group Processes; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000523:psychology*; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D009520:New Zealand; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011340:Problem Solving; D011567:Psychiatric Department, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000639:trends; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000379:methods*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012944:Social Support; D044465:White People