An Independent Mental Health Advocate (IMHA) is someone who is trained to work within the framework of the Mental Health Act to support anyone in need of an advocate who qualifies to have one. This book provides a comprehensive overview of independent mental health advocacy, the role of Independent Mental Health Advocates (IMHAs), the context of advocacy and how it fits in with mental health services. Exploring mental health advocacy in practice, and including the voices of IMHAs and service users, the authors cover topics such as communicating with service users, relationships with service providers, skills, organisation, independent mental health advocacy in relation to the law, and commissioning. Drawing on the latest major research, the authors highlight the recent developments in independent mental health advocacy, including the formal establishment of the IMHA role. They also look at advocacy within secure mental health settings, advocacy with African and Caribbean men, and a provide a national review of IMHA provision. This will be essential reading for IMHAs and IMHAs in training, and will provide mental health professionals who come into contact with them with an understanding of the IMHA role.
Introduction. Part 1. Context of Independent Mental Health Advocacy. 1. History of Mental Health Advocacy. 2. Independent Mental Health Advocacy: what it is & what it's not. 3. Competing understandings of mental health. 4. Advocacy: How does it fit in? 5. Equality & diversity in the practice of independent mental health advocacy. Part 2. The Practice of Mental Health Advocacy. 6. Interpersonal advocacy skills and communicating with service users. 7. Relationships with service providers. 8. Effectively organising advocacy work. 9. Mental health advocacy and the law. 10. Commissioning for advocacy. 11. Research and reviews of advocacy services. 12. Conclusions: The Professionalisation of advocacy?
The book is highly informative and, for one with limited knowledge of the subject area, provides a fascinating introduction to the filed. The book makes a clear case for a wholescale rethinking of mental health services in the UK, and provides a detailed exposition of the endemic problems in the current system.
