Editorial

Citation

Pozner, A. (2011), "Editorial", Mental Health and Social Inclusion, Vol. 15 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/mhsi.2011.55715daa.001

Editorial

Article Type: Editorial From: Mental Health and Social Inclusion, Volume 15, Issue 4

Welcome to the November issue of Mental Health and Social Inclusion.

As always, we start with our regular features. In Policy Watch, Simon Lawton-Smith provides his invaluable overview of current developments in mental health policy across the UK. In Research Watch, Sue Holttum reflects on two recent research papers – the first examines the case for understanding hearing voices as part of normal experience, the second looks at befriending schemes.

Professor Geoff Shepherd and Michael Parsonage of the Centre for Mental Health set out a clear and simple analysis of the concept of social inclusion and how it may be measured. Their paper brings together the cost-effectiveness literature on attempts to improve social inclusion for three groups – children, young adults with first episode psychosis and unemployed adults of working age. It strongly supports the value of retaining the concept of social inclusion, despite the fact that it has become temporarily unfashionable.

Amy Ball and Rivkah Cummerson describe a highly innovative intergenerational participation project undertaken at Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. Young and older people using mental health services learnt how to interview, role play and put radio programmes together. This not only gave them an opportunity to challenge stereotypes, but also had positive effects on their personal recovery and levels of social inclusion.

In a stimulating viewpoint paper, Martin Seager describes the psychological limitations of current approaches to homelessness, and explores what a psychologically minded service culture would look like, introducing the concept of “re-homing”.

Sue Holttum, Laura Lea and colleagues from the service user and carer advisory group at Canterbury Christ Church University describe the challenges and rewards of service user and carer involvement in clinical psychology training, as experienced at one training centre.

And finally, Beverley Costa provides an overview of Mothertongue, a multi-ethnic counselling service which also offers volunteering opportunities for people from a range of black and minority ethnic backgrounds. The paper explores the roles that volunteers occupy and the ways in which they provide opportunities for social inclusion.

As always – do let us know about any creative approaches to promoting social inclusion. And do tell us what you think of the journal and how we can improve it!

Adam Pozner