Speaking out: A practical approach to empowerment

Abstract

This article describes the implementation of a practical approach to the empowerment of mental health service users across a large rural county. It shows how a group of service users who are often isolated can develop an effective voice. Using a series of group work sessions, service users were enabled to discuss their perceptions and experiences of the services they had received, and were then able to represent their views to County and local joint planning teams. This exercise resulted in several significant improvements in service provision. The authors conclude that this approach has much to recommend it for such traditionally powerless service users living in rural areas.