Mental health services and faith communities
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Perspectives on the relationship between statutory mental health services and faith communities: a co-produced constructivist grounded theory study.
IRAS ID
184900
Contact name
Julian Raffay
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Mersey Care NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 10 months, 29 days
Research summary
Aim: This research seeks to explore the relationship between mental health service providers and faith communities. It aims to identify how they can work together safely and effectively to offer the greatest benefit to people with mental health problems and carers.
Background: Mental health services are struggling to keep up with, let alone improve the nation’s mental health. Economic restraint is bearing down on statutory and voluntary services so people who use mental health services often experience dwindling support. Many faith communities provide continuing support and would be willing to provide more.
Design: The study will use ‘constructivist grounded theory,’ an approach which involves analysing recorded interviews to identify patterns of opinion expressed by those who take part. The responses will be used to reflect on how people who use mental health services (and others) see the relationship between those services and faith communities. The research will be co-produced wherever practicable.
Method: The study will be conducted in Mersey Care NHS Trust. It will involve consenting adults on acute adult mental health inpatient wards and people who are receiving mental health care in the community. The participants will be as reflective of the local population as possible. Participants will be interviewed on one occasion lasting up to an hour. In these semi-structured interviews, participants will be asked their views on the relationship between mental health services and faith communities. Participants will be able to give informed consent. The fieldwork will last up to a year. Staff, carers, faith community leaders, and employees of effective voluntary/faith sector mental health services will also be interviewed.
Expectations: This project is expected to either suggest a more in-depth study or influence professional practice.REC name
North East - Newcastle & North Tyneside 1 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/NE/0327
Date of REC Opinion
25 Nov 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion