Evaluation of a Residential Mental Health Recovery Service in North Queensland.

Jon Jago,Thomas Wintzloff,Elise Whatley,Vinitta Mosby,Steve Morton,Narayan Gopalkrishnan,Irina Kinchin,Lisa Brophy,Komla Tsey,Marion Heyeres

doi:10.3389/fpubh.2018.00123

Abstract

Evidence shows that subacute mental health recovery occurs best when a person remains active within the community and fulfils meaningful and satisfying roles of their choosing. Several residential care services that incorporate these values have been established in Australia and overseas. This study describes (a) the development of an evaluation framework for a new subacute residential mental health recovery service in regional Australia and (b) reports on the formative evaluation outcomes. Continuous quality improvement and participatory research approaches informed all stages of the development of the evaluation framework. A program logic was established and subsequently tested for practicability. The resultant logic utilizes the Scottish Recovery Indicator 2 (SRI 2) service development tool, Individual Recovery Plans (IRPs), and the impact assessment of the service on psychiatric inpatient admissions (reported separately). Service strengths included a recovery-focused practice that identifies and addresses the basic needs of residents (consumers). The consumers of the service were encouraged to develop their own goals and self-manage their recovery plans. The staff of the service were identified as working effectively in the context of the recovery process; the staff were seen as supported and valued. Areas for improvement included more opportunities for self-management for residents and more feedback from residents and carers.

Highlights

Mental illness accounts for 7.4% of the world’s measurable burden of disease [1]
This study aims to describe the development and application of this evaluation framework that provided useful learning from the Cairns Prevention And Recovery Care (PARC) first year of operation
Results from the analysis of the Scottish Recovery Indicator 2 (SRI 2) indicated that PARC’s focus on recovery care was a significant strength of the service and integrated well with consumer goals that were reflected in the Individual Recovery Plan (IRP)

Summary

Introduction

Mental illness accounts for 7.4% of the world’s measurable burden of disease [1]. Broader societal impacts affect high unemployment, with Australia showing one of the lowest rates of employment participation by people with lived experience of mental illness [5]. The annual cost of mental illness in Australia has been estimated by the Australian Bureau of Statistics at $20 billion, which includes the cost of loss of productivity and labor force participation [6]. The cost of the burden of severe mental illness, including opioid dependence in Australia in 2014, was estimated over $99 billion [7]. Aims: This study describes (a) the development of an evaluation framework for a new subacute residential mental health recovery service in regional Australia and (b) reports on the formative evaluation outcomes

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion