We thank contributor : Barnaby Pace MNZPsS, Assoc.MNZCMHN, BSocSc(Hons), MSocSc(Hons), PGDipCBT, PGDipEd(EdAd)
Over the course of the past year I have been asked the question ‘why does mental health support work need research?’ on several occasions, and answer is quite simple: To grow as a healthcare discipline.
Research to date suggests that mental health support work is viewed as caregiving of the mentally ill or the poor cousins of social work. I believe neither to be the case.
I propose that support work is a separate discipline, utilising theoretical constructs and techniques from a range of disciplines in a unique manner under the overarching banner of the recovery principles in order to best serve service users.
However, in order to strengthen this opinion, research is required for the empirical support needed to forge ahead and mould mental health support work into a fully recognised healthcare profession. Exploratory research needs to be conducted to investigate the role and function of support work; analysis needs to be carried out to determine the skills and knowledge required; philosophy discussions need to take place to determine best models of practice, and this is just scratching the surface.
