City Research Online

Abstract

In this chapter, researchers and practitioners reflect on running two research studies, which are evaluating brief, Solution Focused (SF) interventions in NHS mental health crisis care for young people and adults presenting to Emergency Departments with self-harm and suicidality. Working in an SF way is a considerable paradigm shift for some of the practitioners, and we discuss how we have trained and supervised existing NHS staff across professional groups to have SF conversations while working within NHS systems of care and in the context of risk management. Three case studies illustrate how SF conversations can support people in crisis to identify their strengths and cope with setbacks. We are not necessarily implementing the purest version of Solution Focused Practice (SFP) as training is brief due to the demands on services. However, even this brief training in SFP is well-received by and rewarding for practitioners. Some practitioners have described it as a more playful way of working with young people. Given that practitioners are enjoying their work, it is perhaps not surprising that people presenting in mental health crises – who often have negative experiences of care – feel supported in a validating, empowering and hopeful way.

Publication Type:	Book Section
Additional Information:	This is an Accepted Manuscript of a book chapter published by Routledge in Solution Focused Practice and Mental Health Crisis on 2 May 2025, available online: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003519225-6
Subjects:	R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC0321 Neuroscience. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry
Departments:	School of Health & Medical Sciences School of Health & Medical Sciences > Healthcare Services Research & Management
SWORD Depositor:	Symplectic Administrator

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