Shared-experience groups in a high-secure psychiatric hospital
This study explores the benefits of shared-experience groups from a service user’s perspective, in a UK high-secure forensic mental health environment. Shared-experience groups have proved beneficial to treatment outcomes, however little research has investigated this in forensic settings.
A qualitative design was adopted with a sample comprising seven men who had participated in a mental health awareness course. They attended a focus group to share their experiences, which were recorded and anonymised. Thematic and saliency analysis identified three main themes: relating to others; increased understanding of mental health; and hope. These were all judged to be beneficial by participants.
The findings support the use of shared-experience groups in a forensic mental health population.
