title: A multidisciplinary learning experience contributing to mental health rehabilitation.
abstract: Purpose People who access health services often have a range of needs that require the involvement of members from a multidisciplinary team. Teaching future health professionals about the importance of a multidisciplinary approach can be challenging. The aim of this paper is to describe a project called Recovery Camp that enhanced multidisciplinary health education through experiential and immersive engagement with people experiencing mental illness. Method Future health professionals and people with a lived experience of mental illness took part in Recovery Camp - an innovative five-day therapeutic recreation initiative in the Australian bush. Results are presented in a case study format and provide the reflective quotes of participants. The quotes were analyzed using a content analysis to identify core concepts. Results Analyses identified a common appreciation of multidisciplinary learning. The interactions among students and between students and consumers, promoted inter-professional practice and a holistic understanding of mental health care. Conclusions An immersive multidisciplinary approach, embedded within a recovery-based programme, enhances students' understanding of the significance of multidisciplinary mental health care and treatment. Implications for Rehabilitation People with a lived experience of mental illness have a range of complex needs that require involvement of members from a multidisciplinary rehabilitation team. This study suggested a multidisciplinary, experiential, immersive health education experience - drawing on the principles of therapeutic recreation - can promote inter-professional rehabilitative practice and an appreciation for holistic mental health care.
authors.affiliation: a School of Nursing , University of Wollongong , Wollongong , NSW , Australia.
authors.forename: Lorna
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Moxham
authors.affiliation: a School of Nursing , University of Wollongong , Wollongong , NSW , Australia.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Patterson
authors.affiliation: b Global Challenges Program , University of Wollongong , Wollongong , NSW , Australia.
authors.forename: Ellie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.affiliation: c School of Education , University of Wollongong , Wollongong , NSW , Australia.
authors.forename: Dana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Perlman
authors.affiliation: a School of Nursing , University of Wollongong , Wollongong , NSW , Australia.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sumskis
authors.affiliation: a School of Nursing , University of Wollongong , Wollongong , NSW , Australia.
authors.forename: Renee
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Brighton
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001315:Australia; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010348:Patient Care Team; D018794:Problem-Based Learning; D000067250:Psychiatric Rehabilitation / Q000193:education*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Interdisciplinary; mental health; mental illness; recovery; therapeutic recreation