Towards a model for collaborative practice in community mental health care

Abstract

Collaborative practice in health care is hailed by Zwarenstein, Goldman, and Reeves (2009), and Hopkin (2010), as an approach that can produce improved health outcomes by preventing fragmentation in healthcare and strengthening healthcare systems. A great deal of efforts is being extended by international organizations such as WHO and national health directorates to improve collaboration in healthcare provision. As a key approach to enhance collaborative practice at the service level, a model of collaborative practice focusing on collaborative processes is proposed in this paper. A model of collaborative practice in community mental health care is based on the results of two case studies and supported by relevant literature. The model has four components – (a) the frameworks for practice consisting of person-centered practice and recovery orientation; (b) the structure of collaborative practice that includes intra-system collaboration and collaboration in service processes; (c) three principles for collaboration as self-understanding, mutual understanding, and shared decision-making; and (d) the key processes in collaboration identified as open dialogue and participatory engagement. Collaborative practice in community mental health care depicted in this model puts service users at the center of service provision and processes with the goal of addressing service users' needs from their perspectives. The model provides a framework to develop and test practice guidelines for community mental health care.