Users, carers and professionals involvement in the evaluation of Italian mental health services

2014 Conference

Abstract: The Italian project “Valutazione della qualità dei Servizi di Salute Mentale: un percorso di analisi condivisa con pazienti in qualità di valutatori,” financed in 2010 by Italy’s National Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (CCM), involved 7 Departments of Mental Health in 4 Regions nationwide. The project involved clients, family carers and professionals in evaluating the quality of care received. Clients, family carers and professionals have been protagonist at each stage of the evaluation process: from designing the topic guide, to recruiting and interviewing other peer stakeholders; to discussing the research results.

The final aim has been to create a participatory and inclusive model for improving the quality of care provided by the Italian mental health services. This participatory approach has been a powerful tool in transforming relationships among clients, carers and professionals, as well as in producing relevant information on the quality of mental health services and the need for ameliorating them. There is a need to further implement the involvement of clients in Italian Services and to make more visible their ‘expertise by experience’ to the wider public.