Study to better support patients after "distressing" mental health assessments
It's after patients admitted into hospital said they had no one to share their experiences with afterwards
A study's looking into how to better support people in Sussex who've been admitted to hospital over their mental health.
It's after patients reported finding assessments before being sectioned "distressing", "confusing" or "unfair" - with no-one to talk to about their experience afterwards.
Researchers are working on having a compassionate conversation with patients, in hopes to make the experience feel further and boost trust.
Mark Hayward, Director of Research at SPFT, said: "Service users have helped us to understand that the experience of being assessed under the Mental Health Act can be distressing - at a time when distressed is already heightened.
"This important study will help us to understand how the distress associated with an assessment can be reduced, and how conversations after the assessment can facilitate the development of therapeutic relationships that can promote the process of recovery"
The study will run across three stages, beginning with speaking to patients to understand their experiences, designing solutions, and then testing the new approach.
It's expected to conclude in September next year.