TY - JOUR
T1 - What drives systemic mental health advocates? : goals, strategies, and values of Australian consumer and carer advocacy organizations
AU - Gee, Alison
AU - McGarty, Craig
AU - Banfield, Michelle
PY - 2015
Y1 - 2015
N2 - The consumer participation movement has growing international recognition in policy and research. Focusing on the collective context, this research systematically examines how two advocacy organizations in the Australian mental health sector are organized and motivated to advance the cause. Qualitative studies analyzed 17 strategic communication documents and nine interviews with members and staff to identify major themes relating to goals, activities, and values driving advocates and their organizations. Five major focus issues were identified: building consumer and carer participation, voice and recognition for consumers and carers, influencing and improving mental health systems, effective collaboration and partnerships, and building organizational strength. Findings demonstrate what drives consumer and carer advocates and their organizations to contribute to an organized, strong, and unified movement. While they focus on cementing genuine and effective consumer participation in health service and policy, they highly value partnerships based on mutual respect to improve mental health systems and outcomes.
AB - The consumer participation movement has growing international recognition in policy and research. Focusing on the collective context, this research systematically examines how two advocacy organizations in the Australian mental health sector are organized and motivated to advance the cause. Qualitative studies analyzed 17 strategic communication documents and nine interviews with members and staff to identify major themes relating to goals, activities, and values driving advocates and their organizations. Five major focus issues were identified: building consumer and carer participation, voice and recognition for consumers and carers, influencing and improving mental health systems, effective collaboration and partnerships, and building organizational strength. Findings demonstrate what drives consumer and carer advocates and their organizations to contribute to an organized, strong, and unified movement. While they focus on cementing genuine and effective consumer participation in health service and policy, they highly value partnerships based on mutual respect to improve mental health systems and outcomes.
KW - carers
KW - consumer participation
KW - mental health
UR - http://handle.uws.edu.au:8081/1959.7/uws:32679
U2 - 10.1177/2158244015615384
DO - 10.1177/2158244015615384
M3 - Article
SN - 2158-2440
VL - 5
SP - 1
EP - 8
JO - Sage Open
JF - Sage Open
IS - 4
ER -