Mental health service user involvement in therapeutic and service delivery decisions: Professional service staff appear optimistic

Objective To capture the views on user involvement among employees in community mental health services in Austria. Methods The Consumer Participation Questionnaire (CPQ), assessing views on user involvement in individual treatment as well as in planning, delivery and evaluation of mental health services, and basic information on the participants, was administered to 181 professionals. The data were analysed using descriptive statistical procedures. Differences in the opinions of four occupational groups - social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists and ,,other social professions" - were calculated. Results The majority was supportive of user involvement and the expected benefit for clients and employees outweighed the anticipated risks. Differences in the views of professional groups arose in regards to setting therapeutic goals, evaluating services and the reasons assumed for clients not wanting to be involved . Conclusions There is an inconsistency between the positive attitude of community mental health staff regarding user involvement and the actual lack of practical experience with such involvement in service planning and delivery in German-speaking countries.