Mental health policy and practice across Europe: an overview

118 Mental health policy and practice
a formal evaluation of the service and had become convinced of the value of
service-user assessment of services.
The second measure of progress was the development of new strategic relationships
for change. Users of mental health services and a wide range of other
local stakeholders formed new, stronger and sustainable relationships with each
other. This enabled them to learn from each other, form partnerships and alliances,
and ultimately have a greater influence on local mental health policies
and practices. The Tallinn forum collaborated on a state-led review of mental
health policy, contributing to a national mental health policy framework document.
As a result of the project, service users also acquired a greater voice in
mental health policy at a local level through active and visible participation
on the local policy forums and local action plans. The fourth fundamental
achievement was the raising of public awareness of mental health issues through
both the local policy forums and the positive contribution and expertise of (ex)
users of mental health services in working with the media and the public. Some
additional, specific examples of other actions which helped develop capacity
and facilitated in creating a greater role for service users in the policy-making
process are shown in Box 5.2.
Early on in this chapter we emphasized the value of using different research
methods to obtain evidence not only on what works, but also on the context,
culture and structures within a system. We have also highlighted that the perspectives
of service users and families can differ markedly from those of other
groups, and it is important that these perspectives are part of the multiple source
of information that is used to promote evidence-informed policy. The Pathways
Box 5.2 Examples of capacity developments fostered by the Pathways to
Policy project
• Greater knowledge on the state of local services.
• Development of a small network of lawyers providing advocacy for
service users.
• Media contact with user groups led to isolated service users coming
into contact with policy forums and mental health organizations.
• Service users trained GPs and the police to raise awareness of the needs
of people with mental health problems.
• Input into national mental health policy framework documents.
• Service users played a prominent role in leading public consultations,
meaning that issues of great importance, such as barriers to
employment, were highlighted.
• Increased assertiveness and confidence of users involved in local policy
forums.
• Opportunities for dialogue between service users and the judiciary over
involuntary admissions procedures.