A narrative analysis of service users’ stories of recovery 1.0
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A narrative analysis of service users’ stories of recovery within a Scottish Forensic Mental Health Service
IRAS ID
319039
Contact name
Judhika Ravindran
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
NHS Lanarkshire R&D
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 8 months, 26 days
Research summary
This study aims to capture the recovery stories of service users currently involved within forensic mental health services either as inpatients or those living in the community. This is because most studies exploring forensic service users’ recovery experiences are presently statistics, focused on remediation of mental health symptoms as a marker of recovery (Bengston, Lund & Langstrom 2019; Warner, Glazier, & Lane 2021). Few studies currently capture the rich detail which contributes to how services support recovery. Thus it is important that service users are asked about their personal recovery experience, in a way that that encourages them to feel heard and empowered. This may encourage the participant to express their opinions about their experiences more authentically, focusing on aspects of their journey that brings the most significance to them without being effected by the expectations or structure of the interview. The narrative approach enables interpretation of service user stories allowing for wider consideration of contextual, cultural, social, and historical factors that may have influenced how the individual has interpreted their experience (Squire, Andrews and Tamboukou, 2008). This approach can provide further insight and vital information surrounding how the forensic mental health system responded to their needs and supported them during a challenging time in their life.
Within England qualitative research has been published to capture the experiences of forensic service users. However there is less research produced within this context within Scotland. The Mental Health Strategy (2017-2027) and the Scottish Recovery Network (SRN) advocate for the adoption of the recovery principles (Jacobson and Greenley, 2001). Thus it is clear that NHS Scotland, and therefore Scotland’s forensic mental health services should support the recovery principles in line with government guidance and NHS Core values. Therefore it is hoped that this study will be an effective contribution to professional understanding service user experience through a recovery focused approach which may in turn help inform policy and practice.REC name
West of Scotland REC 5
REC reference
23/WS/0042
Date of REC Opinion
2 May 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion