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Mental health staff's views and experiences on supporting service users' needs for romantic/intimate relationships: a
Eunice Wu1, Helen Killaspy1, Sharon Eager1
1Division of Psychiatry, University College London, UK.
Aims:
Given the importance of intimacy to well-being and recovery, this systematic review aimed to synthesise the available qualitative literature on mental health practitioners' views and experiences of supporting people's needs for romantic/intimate relationships.
Methods:
We conducted searches on four research publication databases. Quality of studies was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute Checklist for Qualitative Research. Results were summarised using meta-aggregation. Confidence in the findings was measured using the ConQual assessment tool.
Results:
We identified 24 papers which met our inclusion criteria. Four synthesised findings were developed, namely (1) ideas and perceptions surrounding the intimacy needs of service users, (2) service provision at a personal level, (3) fitting intimacy needs into the therapeutic context and (4) service provision at an organisational level. Staff understood the importance of addressing intimacy needs, but voiced a need for improved knowledge, skills and support on how to have such conversations.
Conclusions:
Our findings can inform mental health policy change and support the development of interventions and guidelines that will enable staff to discuss with service users their needs regarding romantic/intimate relationships.
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