Incorporation of service user experience into a module on experiencing acute care in mental health

What was required?

It was felt that it was important that as this is the first core mental health module these students undertake, that the first voice they should hear should be the service user’s. The purpose of the session is a Q&A to encourage students to explore and develop empathy regarding the experience of having mental illness and consequent treatment approaches.

How did you address it?

This session has long been incorporated into this module. It is a fairly unstructured session which doesn’t require a lot of preparation but the module leader fully understands the potential impact of sharing ones experiences in front of a group of students. For this year’s session a service user had volunteered to come and do the session rather than being approached. Prior to the session they were fully briefed as to what the purpose of the session would be. They were advised beforehand to consider where their boundaries lay and be cautious of sharing information they may later regret. The students were also briefed  that they should feel free to openly question the service user but that the service user may say that they didn’t want to answer questions on a particular topic.   The service user we had for this tranche of sessions is an experienced trainer and as such she rounded off the session by encouraging the students to brainstorm the conclusions and understanding they had gained from her case

How did it go?

The service user who came to do the session shared the extraordinary story of her life and recovery. Initially the students listened carefully and slowly began to ask questions and explore the service users experience. The session went very well and the students engaged enthusiastically.

What worked well? Any particular challenges?

The fact that the service user who participated in the session was an experienced trainer and had prepared notes prior to the session did help to maintain a sense of safety for her. She was clear about what she was happy to talk about and had considered this beforehand. The only challenges were the usual ones of difficulties finding the reception area. Below are some of the student’s comments regarding the session:

 

I personally loved it. I was fascinated by her story and what she has been through and could have listened to her for hours. It was interesting to hear from her perspective how she felt about the stigma and also about how the medication worked for her. I’d love to know even more about her experience and I think she is very brave!

 

I personally was quite moved by what she had to say about her experiences throughout her life so far. Also to have a dual perspective as a service user as well as coming through that to actually create mental health services for those who desperately needed it was really interesting and something we can learn from as student nurses. I think having service users come in and speak with us is a really unique aspect of the module and a great way to get some honest feedback of the system so that we can better improve it in the future.

 

I thought the service user’s  story was very moving and highlighted pretty much everything that as nurses we will face at some time or other.  Her story gave a good real life understanding of how either one thing can affect your mental health, as well as an accumulation of stressful life events.  It is incredible what she has achieved and I felt that as she understands her mental health problems and is able to function every day, it was a very good insight into what is possible.  A very helpful session.

 

I really enjoyed the session with the service user. It reaffirmed for me that the life experiences that people have are crucial in understanding mental health problems. The session has also caused me to reflect on the importance of the provision of long term and low cost talking therapies for those with mental health problems. These have obviously helped and continue to help her a great deal. It is a shame (and an injustice) that the provision of talking therapies is so limited within the NHS.

 

Aside from her mental health problems and traumatic experiences, she has had a fascinating life and I could have listened to her for far longer!