Journeys of Despair, Journeys of Hope: Narrative Research on the Mental Health of Young New Zealand Adults

A lunchtime seminar by Hilary Lapsley, PhD, Mental Health Commission, New Zealand

Date: 12:30pm – 2:30pm, 15^th June 2007

Venue: Brenda Moon Room, Main Library (Ground Floor), George Square, University of Edinburgh

This seminar presents narrative research from New Zealand's Mental Health Commission (Barnett & Lapsley, 2006, www.mhc.govt.nz) investigating young adults' first experience of a severe mental health crisis, first use of adult mental health services and recovery experiences. The 40 participants were Maori, Pakeha and Pacific young adults aged 18-29 years, two-thirds of whom had experienced psychosis. It describes their journeys through the development of mental health problems; help-seeking; first encounters with adult services (often via admission to an acute inpatient unit); ongoing assistance, including early intervention and cultural services; and factors that supported or hindered recovery.

Hosted by:

The Scottish Recovery Network and the Primary Care Mental Health Research and Development Programme, University of Edinburgh

For further details contact:

Rebekah Pratt
Primary Care Mental Health Research and Development Programme
School of Clinical Sciences and Community Health - General Practice
The University of Edinburgh
20 West Richmond Street, Edinburgh, EH8 9DX
Tel: 0131 651 4141, Rebekah.Pratt@ed.ac.uk