Cultural consultancy - case study
An Adult Mental Health service was experiencing difficulties engaging a service user who believed that ‘spirits’ were causing him distress
What we did
The team had been concerned that the service user was becoming very unwell and if he did not receive any help this could lead to him being sectioned under the Mental Health Act. The service user however understood his problems in terms of experiencing ‘bad spirits’ and not having a job. A consultant who has a specific training in social anthropology used a variety of methods to gather information about how the service user understood his world and what the team wanted to do to help him. This involved reading notes and interviewing the service user, his friends, people in his faith community and members of the team. The consultant then mediated with a team member and the service user to come to an agreement about how best to structure the relationship in a positive way.
Result:
The team gained a better understanding of the importance of his spirituality and incorporated this more fully into his care plan. The service user accepted medication and he and his care co-ordinator developed a very positive relationship. He was not sectioned, he kept in contact with the team by telephone so that he had time to search for a job and he was discharged from the team three months later.
Quote:
“It has really made us look at each referral in a different way. We feel that we can start to challenge our views as a team” (Consultant Psychiatrist)
“I was only trying to find work and lead a normal life. That’s why I did not attend their meetings. However, like my church I know they just want to help me. . I no longer feel I am slipping into a hole of distress” (Service User)
