title: Face to face, person to person: Skills and attributes deployed by rural mental health clinicians when engaging with consumers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to identify the skills and attributes deployed by rural mental health clinicians when engaging with consumers in the community mental health context.
  
  
  METHODS
  Reflecting the exploratory nature of this research, a semi-structured focus group was conducted.
  
  
  METHODS
  One community mental health service in regional South Australia (catchment area = approximately 60 000 people).
  
  
  METHODS
  Nine mental health clinicians.
  
  
  METHODS
  Not applicable.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants' focus group comments were explored qualitatively using thematic analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three major themes were identified: (i) limitations to providing mental health care in the rural environment (increased consumer vulnerability, limited services, increased risk, and stigma); (ii) universal engagement approaches (being consumer-focused, appropriate communication, facilitating a connection and normalising the experience); (iii) indicated and targeted strategies for engagement (flexible and creative delivery of care, a whole of community approach, being multiskilled and technology use).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although engaging with consumers involves many skills and attributes employed universally across mental health settings, the rural clinician's ability to navigate the environment and utilise this to provide consumer care is equally important to the engagement process. Specifically, these findings highlight the preference of rural mental health clinicians towards a person-centred approach, networking with others in the community when providing care. Understanding how best to maximise the nature of a rural environment, such as facilitating relationships between clinicians and others in the community, will contribute to optimised care.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of South Australia, Port Pirie, South Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Procter
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of South Australia, Port Pirie, South Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ferguson
authors.affiliation: Outer Southern Community Mental Health, Port Pirie Regional Health Service, Port Pirie, South Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Backhouse
authors.affiliation: Eastern Community Mental Health Centre, Port Pirie Regional Health Service, Port Pirie, South Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Cother
authors.affiliation: Eastern Community Mental Health Centre, Port Pirie Regional Health Service, Port Pirie, South Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Adrian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.affiliation: Country Health SA Local Health Network, Port Pirie Regional Health Service, Port Pirie, South Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Murison
authors.affiliation: Mental Health Directorate, Central Adelaide Local Health Network, SA Health, Adelaide.
authors.forename: Julie-Anne
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Reilly
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D008603:Mental Health; D010819:Physician's Role / Q000523:psychology*; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D036301:Qualitative Research; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012424:Rural Population; D013021:South Australia
keywords: collaborative care; community mental health care; mental health nursing; rural mental health; therapeutic engagement