Dr Sarah Wayland - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Book Reviews by Dr Sarah Wayland
Last year marked the 40th anniversary of the film version of Joan Lindsay's book Picnic at Hangin... more Last year marked the 40th anniversary of the film version of Joan Lindsay's book Picnic at Hanging Rock. First published in 1967, the book is an Australian-based story set in 1900, in which four students and a teacher from a private girls’ school go missing after climbing Hanging Rock. The narrative of the book plays with the danger of the Australian bush, at a time when it was still perceived to be wild and untamed, ready to consume those who did not understand its risks. However, Lindsay also played with its deep magic, which lingers still, where Aboriginal spiritualities and mysticism converge.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(16)00093-6
Papers by Dr Sarah Wayland
Frontiers in Psychiatry
Help seekers regularly present to Emergency Departments (EDs) when in suicidal crisis for interve... more Help seekers regularly present to Emergency Departments (EDs) when in suicidal crisis for intervention to ensure their immediate safety, which may assist in reducing future attempts. The emergency health workforce have unique insights that can inform suicide prevention efforts during this critical junction in an individual's experience with suicide. This paper explores the treatment and care delivery experiences of 54 health professionals working in EDs within one of the LifeSpan suicide prevention trial sites in Australia. Data was collected via six focus groups and six interviews. Thematic analysis resulted in three themes: (1) physicality of the emergency department, (2) juggling it all–the bureaucracy, practicalities, and human approach to care, and (3) impact of care delivery on ED staff. Findings highlight the need for workplace training that incorporates responding to the uncertainty of suicidal crisis, to compliment the solution-focused medical model of care. Broader pol...
Health Research Policy and Systems
Background Governments and third-sector organizations (TSOs) require support to reduce suicide mo... more Background Governments and third-sector organizations (TSOs) require support to reduce suicide mortality through funding of suicide prevention services and innovative research. One way is for researchers to engage individuals and services in multisectoral collaborations, to collaboratively design, develop and test suicide prevention services and programmes. However, despite widespread support, to date, it remains unclear as to the extent to which stakeholders are being included in the research process, or if they are, how these partnerships occur in practice. To address this gap, the authors conducted a systematic review with the aim of identifying evidence of multisectoral collaborations within the field of suicide prevention, the types of stakeholders involved and their level of involvement. Methods The authors conducted a strategic PRISMA-compliant search of five electronic databases to retrieve literature published between January 2008 and July 2021. Hand-searching of reference ...
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2021
Despite high rates of critical incidents (CIs) in working class occupations, there is a significa... more Despite high rates of critical incidents (CIs) in working class occupations, there is a significant gap in our understanding of responses to these events. In this study, we aimed to inform a response training module by synthesising the key elements of pre-, during- and post-incident responses to CIs and suicide in the workplace. A rapid review identified studies on responses to CIs or suicide deaths in the workplace published between January 2015 and June 2020. A systematic search of six databases (Medline, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Sociology Collection, Academic Search and Business Search Complete) and grey literature was performed. Studies were excluded if the focus was on non-colleagues. Two reviewers independently conducted record screening, a review of the full text and assessed study quality. The existing evidence was synthesised and interventions were categorised using Haddon’s Matrix. Five studies were included, reporting on CIs across a range of workplace settings, including railwa...
BMC Health Services Research, 2022
Background In 2020, Australia, like most countries, introduced restrictions related to the global... more Background In 2020, Australia, like most countries, introduced restrictions related to the global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Frontline services in the domestic and family violence (DFV) sector had to adapt and innovate to continue supporting clients who were experiencing and/or at risk of DFV. There is a need to understand from the perspective of those on the frontline how DFV service responses in different contexts impacted their working conditions and subsequent wellbeing, and what they want to see continued in ‘the new normal’ to inform future effective practices. We address this by reporting on findings from in-depth interviews conducted with practitioners and managers from the DFV sector in Australia. Methods Between July and September 2020 semi-structured interviews were conducted with 51 DFV practitioners and managers from a range of services and specialisations across legal, housing, health and social care services. The data was analysed using iterative...
Crisis, 2021
Background: Family members often provide informal care following a suicide attempt. Carers may be... more Background: Family members often provide informal care following a suicide attempt. Carers may be vulnerable to caregiver burden. Yet, little is known about what contributes to this. Aims: To determine the predictors of caregiver burden in those carers who support people who have attempted suicide. Method: An online survey of 435 participants assessed exposure to suicide, caring behaviors, and psychological variables and caregiver burden. Results: A multivariate model explained 52% of variance in caregiver burden. Being female, closeness to the person, impact of suicide attempt, frequency of contact pre-attempt, and psychological distress were positively associated with caregiver burden. Confidence in supporting the person after suicide attempt, perceived adequacy of healthcare the person received and the support the carer received, and suicidal ideation of the carer were negatively associated with caregiver burden. Moderation analysis suggested that carers with high levels of distress reported negative association between suicidal ideation and caregiver burden. Limitations: The cross-sectional online survey design of self-identified carers is a limitation of the study. Conclusion: Carers are highly distressed, and if unsupported report increased suicide ideation. In their caring roles they may have contact with support services, thus attending to their needs may ameliorate caregiver burden and associated negative outcomes.
People living with disability may face significant barriers in work, study, sport and joining in ... more People living with disability may face significant barriers in work, study, sport and joining in everyday activities. Community attitudes and experiences of discrimination can further impact on a person’s wellbeing, with the resultant ableism leading to perceptions of the disabled as weak and needy, and experiences of rejection and oppression. Allied health professionals are constantly called on to recognise the multi-layered impact of ableism on those who seek their help, while simultaneously challenging their own perceptions and stereotypes. The chapter starts with definitions and statistics to contextualise the concept of disability within the contemporary Australian environment. The link between ableism and mental health is critically examined, and poignantly brought to life in the personal experiences of three individuals as they navigate living with invisible and visible disabilities. Experiential activities that encourage the learner to test and challenge societal stereotypes, their own perceptions and gain a greater understanding of environmental, social and institutional barriers faced by people living with disability conclude this chapter
Australian Journal of Forensic Sciences, 2021
International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 2020
There is currently limited information about the impact and experiences of a suicide attempt on t... more There is currently limited information about the impact and experiences of a suicide attempt on the well-being of a person providing care before, during, or after the attempt. Scant evidence available suggests that providing care has a profound impact on the support person or carers' own physical and psychological health; they may experience adverse health, financial, and functional outcomes, collectively described as 'caregiver burden'. This project sought to understand insights into the experience of providing care for someone who has previously attempted suicide. The larger study was designed in three phases consisting of an online survey, semi-structured interviews, and a follow-up survey. This paper reports the qualitative findings of the interviews which were thematically analysed. Two symbiotic themes emerged: the lived experience of caring and the impact of engagement and support from the healthcare system. The authors concluded that that the carer position is a multidimensional role involving informal agreements and situational or time-based support. Further, awareness of this shifting relationship needs to be embedded in the provision of care by health professionals following a suicide attempt. Recommendations for enhanced health system response are proposed.
International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 2020
Workplace exposure to suicide attempts and deaths has been widely recognized as an occupational h... more Workplace exposure to suicide attempts and deaths has been widely recognized as an occupational hazard for mental health and social care workers, including mental health nurses. Research consistently demonstrates the adverse impact on professionals. This paper explores the results of an online survey examining suicide exposure and impact. Of the 3010 Australian adult participants who identified exposure to suicide attempts and/or deaths in a larger study, 130 indicated that the most impactful suicide attempt and/or death exposure was that of a client or service user. While distress levels were relatively low among participants with workplace exposure, the qualitative content from 53 participants provides illumination into this experience. Themes that emerged in the qualitative responses include impact on the professional, organization response, and lack of adequate resources and supports to prevent suicide. Previous research has examined the impact of suicide exposure among professionals specifically, but this is the first known study of participants in a community sample who identified the most impactful suicide attempt or death exposure they had experienced was that of a client in a mental health setting. Workplace exposure among mental health workers is common and can have both deleterious and positive effects. Bereavement focused outcomes, where the loss of an attachment relationship is the focus, does not capture the full range of experiences in workplace exposure. Systemic issues in mental health care contribute to further distress among exposed workers, and this requires additional investigation and response.
Health & Social Care in the Community, 2019
Suicide is a major cause of mortality in Australia, with over 3,000 people dying by suicide in 20... more Suicide is a major cause of mortality in Australia, with over 3,000 people dying by suicide in 2017 (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2018). Exposure to suicide death is well known to have negative impacts on those left behind, including increased morbidity and mortality directly associated with the suicide death for both kin (Pitman, Osborn, King, & Erlangsen, 2014) and non-kin (Maple, Cerel, Sanford, Pearce, & Jordan, 2017). Despite the large number of people bereaved by suicide each year, fewer than one-quarter of individuals actively seek support following suicide death
BMC psychiatry, Jan 4, 2018
The aim of this study was to better understand early-stage mental health recovery experiences of ... more The aim of this study was to better understand early-stage mental health recovery experiences of people living with severe and persistent mental illness and complex needs. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with 13 people engaged in an Australian program specifically designed for people facing complex barriers to their recovery. Interview data were analysed thematically using constant comparative methods. Participants described engaging with seven interconnecting aspects of early recovery: (1) engaging with the challenge of recovery; (2) struggling for a secure and stable footing; (3) grieving for what was and what could have been; (4) seeking and finding hope; (5) navigating complex relationships; (6) connecting with formal and informal support, and finally, (7) juggling a complexity of health issues. This study illuminated the complexity of earlier-stage recovery which was characterised both by challenging personal circumstances and a hope for the future. It illus...
The Lancet Psychiatry, 2016
Death Studies, 2015
When a person goes missing, those left behind mourn an ambiguous loss where grief can be disenfra... more When a person goes missing, those left behind mourn an ambiguous loss where grief can be disenfranchised. Different to bereavement following death, hope figures into this experience as a missing person has the potential to return. This review explores hope for families of missing people. Lived experience of ambiguous loss was deconstructed to reveal responses punctuated by hope, which had practical and psychological implications for those learning to live with an unresolved absence. Future lines of enquiry must address the dearth of research exploring the role of hope, unresolved grief, and its clinical implications when a person is missing.
Children and young people with disability are often absent in discussions about child sexual abus... more Children and young people with disability are often absent in discussions about child sexual abuse as people with disability are left out of discussions about violence, abuse and neglect. This is due in part to individuals with disability being excluded from society, hidden away in institutions or in family homes. Community attitudes contribute to and are informed by the fact that people with disability, including children, are often seen in segregated, special and demeaning settings. This situation is changing slowly. People with disability are taking their rightful place as citizens actively contributing to and increasingly benefiting from all that our society has to offer. Segregation and exclusion in closed institutional contexts away from public scrutiny leaves children (and adults) with disability at heightened risk of violence and harm including sexual abuse. Further, when children with disability are stereotyped as dependent and passive and unable to ‘speak up’, they are at ...
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Preterm birth (birth <37 completed weeks’ gestation) is common, affecting 10.6% of live births... more Preterm birth (birth <37 completed weeks’ gestation) is common, affecting 10.6% of live births globally (nearly 15 million babies per year). Having a new baby admitted to a neonatal unit often triggers stress and anxiety for parents. This paper seeks to explore experiences of preterm birth via Twitter. The intermingling of COVID-19 restrictions and World Prematurity Day allows for an understanding of both the additional stresses incurred as a consequence of the pandemic and the more “everyday” experiences in the NICU and beyond. The content analysis of the data included 3161 tweets. Three themes were identified: 1. COVID-19 was not the only trauma; 2. Raising awareness, especially World Prematurity Day; and, 3. Baby milestones. These themes highlight the multi-level challenges faced by parents of premature babies and the healthcare professionals involved in their care. The COVID-19 pandemic and the consequent restrictions imposed on parents’ contact with their babies have resulte...
Last year marked the 40th anniversary of the film version of Joan Lindsay's book Picnic at Hangin... more Last year marked the 40th anniversary of the film version of Joan Lindsay's book Picnic at Hanging Rock. First published in 1967, the book is an Australian-based story set in 1900, in which four students and a teacher from a private girls’ school go missing after climbing Hanging Rock. The narrative of the book plays with the danger of the Australian bush, at a time when it was still perceived to be wild and untamed, ready to consume those who did not understand its risks. However, Lindsay also played with its deep magic, which lingers still, where Aboriginal spiritualities and mysticism converge.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(16)00093-6
Frontiers in Psychiatry
Help seekers regularly present to Emergency Departments (EDs) when in suicidal crisis for interve... more Help seekers regularly present to Emergency Departments (EDs) when in suicidal crisis for intervention to ensure their immediate safety, which may assist in reducing future attempts. The emergency health workforce have unique insights that can inform suicide prevention efforts during this critical junction in an individual's experience with suicide. This paper explores the treatment and care delivery experiences of 54 health professionals working in EDs within one of the LifeSpan suicide prevention trial sites in Australia. Data was collected via six focus groups and six interviews. Thematic analysis resulted in three themes: (1) physicality of the emergency department, (2) juggling it all–the bureaucracy, practicalities, and human approach to care, and (3) impact of care delivery on ED staff. Findings highlight the need for workplace training that incorporates responding to the uncertainty of suicidal crisis, to compliment the solution-focused medical model of care. Broader pol...
Health Research Policy and Systems
Background Governments and third-sector organizations (TSOs) require support to reduce suicide mo... more Background Governments and third-sector organizations (TSOs) require support to reduce suicide mortality through funding of suicide prevention services and innovative research. One way is for researchers to engage individuals and services in multisectoral collaborations, to collaboratively design, develop and test suicide prevention services and programmes. However, despite widespread support, to date, it remains unclear as to the extent to which stakeholders are being included in the research process, or if they are, how these partnerships occur in practice. To address this gap, the authors conducted a systematic review with the aim of identifying evidence of multisectoral collaborations within the field of suicide prevention, the types of stakeholders involved and their level of involvement. Methods The authors conducted a strategic PRISMA-compliant search of five electronic databases to retrieve literature published between January 2008 and July 2021. Hand-searching of reference ...
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2021
Despite high rates of critical incidents (CIs) in working class occupations, there is a significa... more Despite high rates of critical incidents (CIs) in working class occupations, there is a significant gap in our understanding of responses to these events. In this study, we aimed to inform a response training module by synthesising the key elements of pre-, during- and post-incident responses to CIs and suicide in the workplace. A rapid review identified studies on responses to CIs or suicide deaths in the workplace published between January 2015 and June 2020. A systematic search of six databases (Medline, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Sociology Collection, Academic Search and Business Search Complete) and grey literature was performed. Studies were excluded if the focus was on non-colleagues. Two reviewers independently conducted record screening, a review of the full text and assessed study quality. The existing evidence was synthesised and interventions were categorised using Haddon’s Matrix. Five studies were included, reporting on CIs across a range of workplace settings, including railwa...
BMC Health Services Research, 2022
Background In 2020, Australia, like most countries, introduced restrictions related to the global... more Background In 2020, Australia, like most countries, introduced restrictions related to the global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Frontline services in the domestic and family violence (DFV) sector had to adapt and innovate to continue supporting clients who were experiencing and/or at risk of DFV. There is a need to understand from the perspective of those on the frontline how DFV service responses in different contexts impacted their working conditions and subsequent wellbeing, and what they want to see continued in ‘the new normal’ to inform future effective practices. We address this by reporting on findings from in-depth interviews conducted with practitioners and managers from the DFV sector in Australia. Methods Between July and September 2020 semi-structured interviews were conducted with 51 DFV practitioners and managers from a range of services and specialisations across legal, housing, health and social care services. The data was analysed using iterative...
Crisis, 2021
Background: Family members often provide informal care following a suicide attempt. Carers may be... more Background: Family members often provide informal care following a suicide attempt. Carers may be vulnerable to caregiver burden. Yet, little is known about what contributes to this. Aims: To determine the predictors of caregiver burden in those carers who support people who have attempted suicide. Method: An online survey of 435 participants assessed exposure to suicide, caring behaviors, and psychological variables and caregiver burden. Results: A multivariate model explained 52% of variance in caregiver burden. Being female, closeness to the person, impact of suicide attempt, frequency of contact pre-attempt, and psychological distress were positively associated with caregiver burden. Confidence in supporting the person after suicide attempt, perceived adequacy of healthcare the person received and the support the carer received, and suicidal ideation of the carer were negatively associated with caregiver burden. Moderation analysis suggested that carers with high levels of distress reported negative association between suicidal ideation and caregiver burden. Limitations: The cross-sectional online survey design of self-identified carers is a limitation of the study. Conclusion: Carers are highly distressed, and if unsupported report increased suicide ideation. In their caring roles they may have contact with support services, thus attending to their needs may ameliorate caregiver burden and associated negative outcomes.
People living with disability may face significant barriers in work, study, sport and joining in ... more People living with disability may face significant barriers in work, study, sport and joining in everyday activities. Community attitudes and experiences of discrimination can further impact on a person’s wellbeing, with the resultant ableism leading to perceptions of the disabled as weak and needy, and experiences of rejection and oppression. Allied health professionals are constantly called on to recognise the multi-layered impact of ableism on those who seek their help, while simultaneously challenging their own perceptions and stereotypes. The chapter starts with definitions and statistics to contextualise the concept of disability within the contemporary Australian environment. The link between ableism and mental health is critically examined, and poignantly brought to life in the personal experiences of three individuals as they navigate living with invisible and visible disabilities. Experiential activities that encourage the learner to test and challenge societal stereotypes, their own perceptions and gain a greater understanding of environmental, social and institutional barriers faced by people living with disability conclude this chapter
Australian Journal of Forensic Sciences, 2021
International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 2020
There is currently limited information about the impact and experiences of a suicide attempt on t... more There is currently limited information about the impact and experiences of a suicide attempt on the well-being of a person providing care before, during, or after the attempt. Scant evidence available suggests that providing care has a profound impact on the support person or carers' own physical and psychological health; they may experience adverse health, financial, and functional outcomes, collectively described as 'caregiver burden'. This project sought to understand insights into the experience of providing care for someone who has previously attempted suicide. The larger study was designed in three phases consisting of an online survey, semi-structured interviews, and a follow-up survey. This paper reports the qualitative findings of the interviews which were thematically analysed. Two symbiotic themes emerged: the lived experience of caring and the impact of engagement and support from the healthcare system. The authors concluded that that the carer position is a multidimensional role involving informal agreements and situational or time-based support. Further, awareness of this shifting relationship needs to be embedded in the provision of care by health professionals following a suicide attempt. Recommendations for enhanced health system response are proposed.
International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 2020
Workplace exposure to suicide attempts and deaths has been widely recognized as an occupational h... more Workplace exposure to suicide attempts and deaths has been widely recognized as an occupational hazard for mental health and social care workers, including mental health nurses. Research consistently demonstrates the adverse impact on professionals. This paper explores the results of an online survey examining suicide exposure and impact. Of the 3010 Australian adult participants who identified exposure to suicide attempts and/or deaths in a larger study, 130 indicated that the most impactful suicide attempt and/or death exposure was that of a client or service user. While distress levels were relatively low among participants with workplace exposure, the qualitative content from 53 participants provides illumination into this experience. Themes that emerged in the qualitative responses include impact on the professional, organization response, and lack of adequate resources and supports to prevent suicide. Previous research has examined the impact of suicide exposure among professionals specifically, but this is the first known study of participants in a community sample who identified the most impactful suicide attempt or death exposure they had experienced was that of a client in a mental health setting. Workplace exposure among mental health workers is common and can have both deleterious and positive effects. Bereavement focused outcomes, where the loss of an attachment relationship is the focus, does not capture the full range of experiences in workplace exposure. Systemic issues in mental health care contribute to further distress among exposed workers, and this requires additional investigation and response.
Health & Social Care in the Community, 2019
Suicide is a major cause of mortality in Australia, with over 3,000 people dying by suicide in 20... more Suicide is a major cause of mortality in Australia, with over 3,000 people dying by suicide in 2017 (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2018). Exposure to suicide death is well known to have negative impacts on those left behind, including increased morbidity and mortality directly associated with the suicide death for both kin (Pitman, Osborn, King, & Erlangsen, 2014) and non-kin (Maple, Cerel, Sanford, Pearce, & Jordan, 2017). Despite the large number of people bereaved by suicide each year, fewer than one-quarter of individuals actively seek support following suicide death
BMC psychiatry, Jan 4, 2018
The aim of this study was to better understand early-stage mental health recovery experiences of ... more The aim of this study was to better understand early-stage mental health recovery experiences of people living with severe and persistent mental illness and complex needs. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with 13 people engaged in an Australian program specifically designed for people facing complex barriers to their recovery. Interview data were analysed thematically using constant comparative methods. Participants described engaging with seven interconnecting aspects of early recovery: (1) engaging with the challenge of recovery; (2) struggling for a secure and stable footing; (3) grieving for what was and what could have been; (4) seeking and finding hope; (5) navigating complex relationships; (6) connecting with formal and informal support, and finally, (7) juggling a complexity of health issues. This study illuminated the complexity of earlier-stage recovery which was characterised both by challenging personal circumstances and a hope for the future. It illus...
The Lancet Psychiatry, 2016
Death Studies, 2015
When a person goes missing, those left behind mourn an ambiguous loss where grief can be disenfra... more When a person goes missing, those left behind mourn an ambiguous loss where grief can be disenfranchised. Different to bereavement following death, hope figures into this experience as a missing person has the potential to return. This review explores hope for families of missing people. Lived experience of ambiguous loss was deconstructed to reveal responses punctuated by hope, which had practical and psychological implications for those learning to live with an unresolved absence. Future lines of enquiry must address the dearth of research exploring the role of hope, unresolved grief, and its clinical implications when a person is missing.
Children and young people with disability are often absent in discussions about child sexual abus... more Children and young people with disability are often absent in discussions about child sexual abuse as people with disability are left out of discussions about violence, abuse and neglect. This is due in part to individuals with disability being excluded from society, hidden away in institutions or in family homes. Community attitudes contribute to and are informed by the fact that people with disability, including children, are often seen in segregated, special and demeaning settings. This situation is changing slowly. People with disability are taking their rightful place as citizens actively contributing to and increasingly benefiting from all that our society has to offer. Segregation and exclusion in closed institutional contexts away from public scrutiny leaves children (and adults) with disability at heightened risk of violence and harm including sexual abuse. Further, when children with disability are stereotyped as dependent and passive and unable to ‘speak up’, they are at ...
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Preterm birth (birth <37 completed weeks’ gestation) is common, affecting 10.6% of live births... more Preterm birth (birth <37 completed weeks’ gestation) is common, affecting 10.6% of live births globally (nearly 15 million babies per year). Having a new baby admitted to a neonatal unit often triggers stress and anxiety for parents. This paper seeks to explore experiences of preterm birth via Twitter. The intermingling of COVID-19 restrictions and World Prematurity Day allows for an understanding of both the additional stresses incurred as a consequence of the pandemic and the more “everyday” experiences in the NICU and beyond. The content analysis of the data included 3161 tweets. Three themes were identified: 1. COVID-19 was not the only trauma; 2. Raising awareness, especially World Prematurity Day; and, 3. Baby milestones. These themes highlight the multi-level challenges faced by parents of premature babies and the healthcare professionals involved in their care. The COVID-19 pandemic and the consequent restrictions imposed on parents’ contact with their babies have resulte...
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
In the UK, tweets around COVID-19 and health care have primarily focused on the NHS. Recent resea... more In the UK, tweets around COVID-19 and health care have primarily focused on the NHS. Recent research has identified that the psychological well-being of NHS staff has been adversely impacted as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this study was to investigate narratives relating to the NHS and COVID-19 during the first lockdown (26 March–4 July 2020). A total of 123,880 tweets were collated and downloaded bound to the time period of the first lockdown in order to analyse the real-time discourse around COVID-19 and the NHS. Content analysis was undertaken and tweets were coded to positive and negative sentiments. Five main themes were identified: (1) the dichotomies of ‘clap for carers’; (2) problems with PPE and testing; (3) peaks of anger; (4) issues around hero worship; and (5) hints of a normality. Further research exploring and documenting social media narratives around COVID-19 and the NHS, in this and subsequent lockdowns, should help in tailoring suitable support fo...
Recovery conversations provide space for consumers of mental health services to identify how life... more Recovery conversations provide space for consumers of mental health services to identify how life, post diagnosis, might be lived. Anthony (1993) notes that 'recovery is a simple but powerful vision' (p.13) however there is no universally accepted definition of recovery in a context of mental health. Conceptualising recovery as an individual journey, that has light and shade can provide an expansive view on consumers and their experiences. A recovery narratives study, recently conducted by The University of Sydney, identified that consumers of recovery services believed that their mental health needs were viewed separately, at times, to issues of physical health, culture, addiction issues and relationship stressors. Broad recovery narratives encourage consumers to be active participants in their own journey as 'opposed to passive recipients of their mental health care' (Allott and colleagues, 2002, p.15). Consumers understanding of the role of their physical health, culture and trauma may benefit notions of recovery. This paper identifies how consumers, practitioners and peer-workers, working in a recovery-oriented model, can be guided by participant stories that include factors on the periphery of mental health, and how they may assist in developing a recovery framework that offers both a process and an outcome.