BACKGROUND: Despite the availability of effective evidence-based treatments for depression and anxiety, many 'harder-to-reach' social and patient groups experience difficulties accessing treatment. We developed a complex intervention, the AMP (Improving Access to Mental Health in Primary Care) programme, which combined community engagement (CE), tailored (individual and group) psychosocial interventions and primary care involvement. OBJECTIVES: To develop and evaluate a model for community engagement component of the complex intervention. This paper focuses on the development of relationships between stakeholders, their engagement with the issue of access to mental health and with the programme through the CE model. DESIGN: Our evaluation draws on process data, qualitative interviews and focus groups, brought together through framework analysis to evaluate the issues and challenges encountered. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS: A case study of the South Asian community project carried out in Longsight in Greater Manchester, United Kingdom. KEY FINDINGS: Complex problems require multiple local stakeholders to work in concert. Assets based approaches implicitly make demands on scarce time and resources. Community development approaches have many benefits, but perceptions of open-ended investment are a barrier. The time-limited nature of a CE intervention provides an impetus to 'do it now', allowing stakeholders to negotiate their investment over time and accommodating their wider commitments. Both tangible outcomes and recognition of process benefits were vital in maintaining involvement. CONCLUSIONS: CE interventions can play a key role in improving accessibility and acceptability by engaging patients, the public and practitioners in research and in the local service ecology.
BACKGROUND: Despite the availability of effective evidence-based treatments for depression and anxiety, many 'harder-to-reach' social and patient groups experience difficulties accessing treatment. We developed a complex intervention, the AMP (Improving Access to Mental Health in Primary Care) programme, which combined community engagement (CE), tailored (individual and group) psychosocial interventions and primary care involvement. OBJECTIVES: To develop and evaluate a model for community engagement component of the complex intervention. This paper focuses on the development of relationships between stakeholders, their engagement with the issue of access to mental health and with the programme through the CE model. DESIGN: Our evaluation draws on process data, qualitative interviews and focus groups, brought together through framework analysis to evaluate the issues and challenges encountered. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS: A case study of the South Asian community project carried out in Longsight in Greater Manchester, United Kingdom. KEY FINDINGS: Complex problems require multiple local stakeholders to work in concert. Assets based approaches implicitly make demands on scarce time and resources. Community development approaches have many benefits, but perceptions of open-ended investment are a barrier. The time-limited nature of a CE intervention provides an impetus to 'do it now', allowing stakeholders to negotiate their investment over time and accommodating their wider commitments. Both tangible outcomes and recognition of process benefits were vital in maintaining involvement. CONCLUSIONS: CE interventions can play a key role in improving accessibility and acceptability by engaging patients, the public and practitioners in research and in the local service ecology.
Authors: Carolyn Chew-Graham; Marija Kovandžić; Linda Gask; Heather Burroughs; Pamela Clarke; Helen Sanderson; Christopher Dowrick Journal: Health Soc Care Community Date: 2011-07-12
Authors: Christopher Dowrick; Linda Gask; Suzanne Edwards; Saadia Aseem; Peter Bower; Heather Burroughs; Amy Catlin; Carolyn Chew-Graham; Pam Clarke; Mark Gabbay; Simon Gowers; Derek Hibbert; Marija Kovandzic; Jonathan Lamb; Karina Lovell; Anne Rogers; Mari Lloyd-Williams; Waquas Waheed Journal: BMC Health Serv Res Date: 2009-12-10 Impact factor: 2.655
Authors: E Teunissen; K Gravenhorst; C Dowrick; E Van Weel-Baumgarten; F Van den Driessen Mareeuw; T de Brún; N Burns; C Lionis; F S Mair; C O'Donnell; M O'Reilly-de Brún; M Papadakaki; A Saridaki; W Spiegel; C Van Weel; M Van den Muijsenbergh; A MacFarlane Journal: Int J Equity Health Date: 2017-02-10
Authors: Karina Lovell; Jonathan Lamb; Linda Gask; Pete Bower; Waquas Waheed; Carolyn Chew-Graham; Jon Lamb; Saadia Aseem; Susan Beatty; Heather Burroughs; Pam Clarke; Anna Dowrick; Suzanne Edwards; Mark Gabbay; Mari Lloyd-Williams; Chris Dowrick Journal: BMC Psychiatry Date: 2014-08-01 Impact factor: 3.630
Authors: Christopher Dowrick; Peter Bower; Carolyn Chew-Graham; Karina Lovell; Suzanne Edwards; Jonathan Lamb; Katie Bristow; Mark Gabbay; Heather Burroughs; Susan Beatty; Waquas Waheed; Mark Hann; Linda Gask Journal: BMC Health Serv Res Date: 2016-02-17 Impact factor: 2.655