Tackling change in mental health service delivery: A qualitative evaluation of a lifestyle program targeting mental health staff - Keeping our Staff in Mind (KoSiM)

Issues addressed People with severe mental illness have adverse health outcomes compared to the general population. Lifestyle interventions are effective in improving health outcomes in this population. Current cultural processes in mental health services do not generally incorporate physical health care practices. Innovative education is required to improve knowledge and confidence of staff in the delivery of preventative health measures. Methods The Keeping our Staff in Mind (KoSiM) program delivered a brief lifestyle intervention to mental health staff. A qualitative analysis following the Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research was undertaken. Semi-structured interviews designed to elicit information about the acceptability of the program and the impact of the intervention on participants' personal and professional lives. The interviews were analysed using thematic analysis, with coding independently developed and reviewed by three authors. Results Of the 103 eligible participants, 75 were interviewed. Responses revealed four main themes: (i) positive changes in clinician's approach to physical health care, (ii) improvements in attitudes to self-care and family wellbeing, (iii) positive changes in workplace culture associated with physical health care delivery and (iv) high levels of acceptability of the program. Conclusion The KoSiM model may be useful in other settings as a means of changing the culture of mental health services to better integrate physical health care as a core part of mental health service provision. So what? A novel approach using staff focussed lifestyle interventions model may cut through the resistance that is encountered when implementing proven methods of clinical intervention where cultural barriers exist.