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Out of Your Head: Guides for People Who Use Drugs and Have Experienced Mental Illness
Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust
Mark Holland, Consultant Nurse (Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust), Mike Linnell (Lifeline Publications).
Many people with mental illness have misused alcohol or
illicit drugs (i.e. have a dual diagnosis) and there is a lack
of educational materials to support patient and carer
understanding of the condition. Manchester Mental Health
and Social Care Trust recognised that, due to the lifestyles
of these patients (often chaotic and risky) and their poor
tolerance for the health service and its professionals, it was particularly important to address this need.
The Out of Your Head guides are a series of four
booklets which provide an illustrated story line that conveys
the experiences of clients and healthcare professionals in order to improve understanding about the disorder. The series, which is based on a research study, utilises the direct experiences of 70 participants told through four characters lives (each booklet has one main character). The text and illustrations have been validated through follow-up interviews and focus groups.
Since the publication of the series (January 2007), 30,000 booklets have been distributed worldwide via Lifeline Publications and several other NHS Trusts have started using the booklets to support their services. A study to formally evaluate the impact of the booklets is anticipated for 2008.
Image: Mark Holland, Consultant Nurse (Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust) and Mike Linnell (Lifeline Publications).