Dependence and resistance in community mental health care —Negotiations of user participation between staff and users

This study illuminates how user participation is negotiated and involves multiple and shifting subject positions in the collaboration between users and professionals in community mental health care. By taking different positions, the relationship between users and professionals develops through dynamic interaction. This study challenges understandings of equality and implicit “truths” in user participation by illuminating subtle forms of power and dilemmas that arise in user–professional negotiations. What are the implications for practice? Instead of denying the appearance of power, it is important to question the execution of power in the interplay between users and professionals. Focusing on the negotiation processes between users and professionals is important for increasing reflection on and improving understanding of the dynamic in collaboration and speech. By focusing on negotiations, power can be used in productive ways in user–professional relationships. AbstractIntroductionImplementation of user participation is considered important in today's mental health care. Research shows, however, that user participation lacks clarity and provokes uncertainty regarding shifting roles.AimTo investigate negotiation of user participation in a microstudy of interplay between users and health professionals in community mental health care.MethodThis qualitative study is based on semi‐structured in‐depth interviews, involving ten service users and ten professional...
Source: Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing - Category: Nursing Authors: Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research