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Mental health workers’ values and their congruency with recovery principles

Bianca A. Glajz (Illawarra Institute for Mental Health, School of Psychology, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia)
Frank P. Deane (Illawarra Institute for Mental Health, School of Psychology, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia)
Virginia Williams (Illawarra Institute for Mental Health, School of Psychology, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia)

The Journal of Mental Health Training, Education and Practice

ISSN: 1755-6228

Article publication date: 9 January 2017

1549

Abstract

Purpose

Recovery in mental health emphasises the empowerment of clients to discover and develop hope and a more satisfying life often in the presence of ongoing symptoms of mental illness. Work values that are incompatible with values that underpin the recovery philosophy may be contributing to the challenges in implementing recovery values in practice. The purpose of this paper is to explore the types of work values espoused by Australian mental health workers and their degree of congruence with recovery values.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 65 Australian mental health workers completed an open-ended work values question. Leximancer content analysis was used to generate a thematic work values profile followed by a theory-led thematic analysis of the responses to assess congruence with recovery values.

Findings

This sample valued client-centred practice that supports recovery, making a difference in others’ lives, work competence, being caring and empathic, and meaningful work. Overall, there was substantial congruence between work and recovery values, with less evidence of endorsement of values relating to strengths-based approaches, personal responsibility, and positive self-identity. These values should be targeted in future training initiatives.

Originality/value

The current study is the first study to identify the types of work values espoused by Australian mental health workers and to examine the degree to which they are recovery-consistent. This is an important research agenda given the high national and international priority to adopt a recovery orientation, and the need to identify and modify potential barriers to the implementation of recovery-oriented services.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The authors received funding from the participating mental health organisation to conduct training. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing. The authors declare no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this paper.

Citation

Glajz, B.A., Deane, F.P. and Williams, V. (2017), "Mental health workers’ values and their congruency with recovery principles", The Journal of Mental Health Training, Education and Practice, Vol. 12 No. 1, pp. 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1108/JMHTEP-08-2015-0036

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2017, Emerald Publishing Limited

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