Development and introduction of a consumer-designed advance statement for mental health care in the Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District: Findings from a pilot study

Abstract

This project set out to conduct a qualitative study on the development and use of a consumer-designed advance statement (AS) form for mental health care in the Nepean Blue Mountains area. The project was conducted in collaboration with the Nepean Blue Mountain Local Health District (NBMLHD) Mental Health Service, Aftercare NSW and a Critical Reference Group (CRG) of mental health consumers, carers and staff, and mental health consumers and their families/carers. The research findings from this project generated evidence on the mental health consumers’, CRG’s, support workers’ and clinicians’ views on the function, format, content, preparation, storage, use and impact of the consumer-designed AS form. These findings will inform the implementation of the consumer-designed AS form to the rest of the NBMLHD.