Support for Recovery in Mental Health: A Delphi Study From the Family's Perspective.

Area of Science:

• Mental Health
• Psychiatry
• Family Caregiving

Background:

• Recovery-oriented approaches are central to modern mental health services, emphasizing human rights and user empowerment.
• Family members are vital support networks for individuals undergoing mental health recovery.
• Family caregivers face distinct challenges in supporting a loved one's recovery journey.

Purpose of the Study:

• To achieve international consensus on supportive actions for mental health recovery.
• To identify facilitators and obstacles in family-provided support for mental health recovery.
• To understand the perspective of family caregivers in mental health services.

Main Methods:

• A three-round, international e-Delphi study involving 53 family caregivers.
• Methodological rigor ensured by adherence to the CREDES checklist.
• Consensus-building approach to identify key supportive actions, facilitators, and obstacles.

Main Results:

• Consensus reached on 47 statements for supportive actions, with "awareness of user's needs" as paramount.
• 42 facilitators identified, notably "openness to learning" and "trusting the user".
• 23 obstacles acknowledged, with "emotional or physical absence of the caregiver" being the primary barrier.

Conclusions:

• Family support is multifaceted and essential for mental health recovery.
• Training programs based on consensus findings can empower families for effective, person-centered care.
• Addressing caregiver absence and promoting learning/trust are critical for enhancing family support in mental health.