The recovery literature proposes that consumer
involvement in organizational decision-making
promotes recovery, hope and self-determination. With
these outcomes in mind, this book provides an example
of an ethically approved collaborative qualitative
action research project involving consumers, staff,
family members and management of adult services at
Vancouver Community Mental Health Services (VCMHS).
The project enhances the organization's emerging
commitment, reflecting a growing international
interest in psychosocial rehabilitation and recovery,
to provide consumers with recovery services and to
bring decision-making closer to them. Data from
face-to-face interviews and a powerful café style
focus group are outlined. The project collaboratively
engaged participants (including consumers of mental
health services, family members, staff and management
of VCHMS) in articulating a plan that is mutually
beneficial to, and practicable for, all stakeholders.
The conclusion is that VCMHS wishes to involve
consumers in organizational decision-making to become
a more recovery-oriented system.