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Therapeutic engagement between consumers in suicidal crisis and mental health nurses

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-18, 01:56 authored by David LeesDavid Lees, Procter, N, Denise FassettDenise Fassett
Registered nurses within public mental health services play crucial roles in helping people recover from suicidal crisis. However, there is a lack of understanding of how care is experienced in this context, and available evidence suggests that nurses and consumers are often dissatisfied with the quality of care. There is thus an imperative to generate understanding of needs and experiences of both groups with a view to informing practice development. This article summarizes qualitative findings from a multimethod study undertaken in Australia, which surveyed and interviewed mental health nurses who had recent experience of caring for consumers in suicidal crisis in a hospital setting, and interviewed consumers who had recovered from a recent suicidal crisis. A framework was developed to guide the study and support ethical imperatives; in particular, the promotion of consumer well-being. The findings highlight that therapeutic interpersonal engagement between nurses and consumers was central to quality care. This was particularly noted, as engagement could help reduce consumer isolation, loss of control, distress, and objectification of the delivery of potentially-objectifying common interventions. Of concern, the results indicate a lack of therapeutic engagement from the perspective of both consumers and nurses. Recommendations to promote fuller therapeutic engagement are presented.

History

Publication title

International Journal of Mental Health Nursing

Volume

23

Issue

4

Pagination

306-315

ISSN

1445-8330

Department/School

School of Nursing

Publisher

Wiley-Blackwell

Place of publication

Carlton, Vic

Rights statement

Copyright 2014 Australian College of Mental Health Nurses

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Nursing

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