Investigating the Lived Experience of Families with Enduring, Maternal Mental Health Difficulties, and Examining the Social Work Response.

The ‘ripple effect’ of mental illness on the entire family is well recognised (Manktelow 1994b:66-71), as is the need for  greater focus on the family as a whole, to facilitate service provision that will meet parent’s needs, children’s needs, and that of the entire family unit (Handley et al. 2001:225). Yet, despite evidence of significant, long-term disadvantage in homes where enduring maternal mental health difficulties exist, little qualitative research exists into the self-identified needs of these “invisible” children and their families (Aldridge 2006: 79, O’Doherty et al. 2006, Stallard et al. 2004, Tunnard 2004, Bassett et al. 1999:597). This issue was also highlighted within the recent Social Services Inspection of Child Protection Services in Northern Ireland which identified that the needs of these families were “often not fully understood”; and there was little evidence of training for Family & Child Care, and Mental Health social workers, regarding the impact of parental mental illness on children (DHSS&PSNI 2006:45-46).

There is an unambiguous and critical need for structured research into the lived experience of families affected by enduring, maternal, mental health difficulties, and the related interventions from Family & Child Care and Mental Health social workers. It is envisaged that the proposed research will develop substantive, validated theory underpinned by qualitative and quantitative evidence, to support the design of social work interventions and practice with these families. It will also complement, and contribute to research into the effectiveness of Health and Social Care services in meeting the needs of adults with mental health difficulties. While augmenting knowledge regarding mental health inequalities in Northern Ireland, and endeavouring to offer high quality evidence based research, which is nationally and internationally relevant to social work practitioners, policy makers and service users.

Overarching Aim:

To investigate the lived experience of families where there are enduring, maternal, mental health difficulties; and examine related interventions from Community Mental Health and Family & Child Care social workers.

Objectives of Research:

1. To ascertain the scope, scale and impact of enduring maternal mental health difficulties in Northern Ireland, and extent and quality of intervention from Mental Health and Family & Child Care social work.
2. To examine the lived experience of families where mothers have enduring mental health difficulties.
3. To examine the experiences of Mental Health and Family & Child Care social workers involved in families where there are enduring, maternal, mental health difficulties.
4. To compile a comprehensive literature review to consider the relevant research in this area within a national and international context.

Methodology:

A pragmatic, mixed method approach will be utilised to more accurately reflect the complex reality of living in a family where there are enduring, maternal mental health difficulties. It additionally corresponds to the objectives of the proposed research by allowing for the collection and analysis of quantitative data regarding prevalence, and qualitative and quantitative data regarding service users’ and service providers’ experience:

1. Secondary data analyses of case file material, to determine incidence of enduring, maternal mental health difficulties.
2. A case file audit of Community Mental Health social work interventions with families where there are enduring, maternal mental health difficulties.
3. Qualitative semi structured interviews guided by cue questions, with family representatives to ascertain the lived experience of families where there are enduring, maternal mental health difficulties.
4. Qualitative semi structured interviews guided by cue questions, with relevant social workers drawn from Mental Health and Family & Child Care programmes of care, to determine the social work response to families where there are enduring, maternal mental health difficulties.

Proposed Outcomes
The proposed research aims to:

1.  Expand the evidence base in regard to models of good practice in the interface between Mental Health and Family & Child Care social work.
2.  Identify gaps in service provision and make recommendations for good practice.
3.  Develop substantive theory for social work practice.

Other Information :

BA Hons. Fine & Applied Art (UU), Postgraduate Certificate in Psychotherapeutic Studies (QUB),  BA Hons. Social Work (UU)