Mental health recovery narratives and their impact on recipients: systematic review and narrative synthesis

Rennick-Egglestone, S. et al. (2019) Mental health recovery narratives and their impact on recipients: systematic review and narrative synthesis. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 64(10), pp. 669-679. (doi: 10.1177/0706743719846108) (PMID:31046432)

Abstract

Objective: Mental health recovery narratives are often shared in peer support work and antistigma campaigns. Internet technology provides access to an almost unlimited number of narratives, and yet little is known about how they affect recipients. The aim of this study was to develop a conceptual framework characterizing the impact of recovery narratives on recipients. Method: A systematic review of evidence about the impact of mental health recovery narratives was conducted. Searches used electronic databases (n = 9), reference tracking, hand-searching of selected journals (n = 2), grey literature searching, and expert consultation (n = 7). A conceptual framework was generated through a thematic analysis of included articles, augmented by consultation with a Lived Experience Advisory Panel. Results: In total, 8137 articles were screened. Five articles were included. Forms of impact were connectedness, understanding of recovery, reduction in stigma, validation of personal experience, affective responses, and behavioural responses. Impact was moderated by characteristics of the recipient, context, and narrative. Increases in eating disorder behaviours were identified as a harmful response specific to recipients with eating disorders. Conclusions: Mental health recovery narratives can promote recovery. Recovery narratives might be useful for clients with limited access to peers and in online interventions targeted at reducing social isolation in rural or remote locations, but support is needed for the processing of the strong emotions that can arise. Caution is needed for use with specific clinical populations. Protocol registration: Prospero-CRD42018090923.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: This article is independent research funded by the NIHR under its Programme Grants for Applied Research Programme (Programme Grants for Applied Research, Personal experience as a recovery resource in psychosis: Narrative Experiences ONline (NEON) Programme, RP-PG- 17 0615-20016). Mike Slade acknowledges the support of Center for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, University of South-Eastern Norway and the NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Bradstreet, Dr Simon
• Authors: Rennick-Egglestone, S., Morgan, K., Llewellyn-Beardsley, J., Ramsay, A., McGranahan, R., Gillard, S., Hui, A., Ng, F., Schneider, J., Booth, S., Pinfold, V., Davidson, L., Franklin, D., Bradstreet, S., Arbour, S., and Slade, M.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > General Practice and Primary Care
• Journal Name: Canadian Journal of Psychiatry
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• ISSN: 0706-7437
• ISSN (Online): 1497-0015
• Published Online: 02 May 2019
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2019 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Canadian Journal of Psychiatry 64(10): 669-679
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher