Recovery in Mental Health Care with the Aid of Photo-stories: An Action Research Based on the Principles of Hermeneutic Photography

Abstract

Our aim was to develop and evaluate an intervention that can be used in recovery oriented care to promote recovery processes and goals as found in the CHIME framework [1]. Using the Appreciative cycle and principles from the MRC-Framework for the development and Evaluation of complex interventions an intervention with photography has been designed and tested on 3 long stay wards of a mental health care hospital. 15 Service users participated and were photographed during 4 sessions. The intervention built on the expertise that already existed about rehabilitation approaches; especially the Strengths approach [2] and the findings from earlier studies into hermeneutic photography by the author. The intervention proved to inspire hope and meaning giving in service users and contributed to a transformation of relationships between service users and their mentor nurses. These relationships became more reciprocal and equal. The intervention yielded opportunities for service users to express their wishes and values in life. In this way they made a representation of the persons who they are. The photographs probably contribute to a greater self-esteem of the service users and may inspire them to use the action and what it meant to them for further recovery. The intervention put the service user in the lead and contributed to more mutuality in the relationship with the mentor nurse.