Receiving a mental health diagnosis - An exploration of service users’ experiences and staff responses to emergent themes

In recent years, the personal and financial cost of mental illness has gained attention in the UK. Research indicates mental illness will affect one in four of the population at some point in their lives. This statistic is recognised in the increasing pressure on mental health services, which have historically been underfunded. Rhetoric surrounding the lack of investment, has led to a drive to ensure parity of esteem between physical and mental health services. To achieve full parity, it is essential this translates into the field of research. Although literature on mental illness is vast, the specific experience of receiving a mental health diagnosis has received little attention. This is an area of importance as it is an experience that can change people’s lives and impact on their identity. The current research, based in South Wales, gave voice to both service users and staff. Therefore it contributes to the knowledge base on the experience of receiving a diagnosis from two perspectives. This is achieved through the implementation of a novel concurrent multi-method design that incorporates a Research Advisory Panel of people with lived experience of mental illness.