Adult mental health practitioner beliefs about psychosis, parenting, and the role of the practitioner: A Q methodological investigation

OBJECTIVES: There is a lack of research into parenting interventions for families which include a parent experiencing psychosis or other serious mental illness (SMI). Preliminary findings highlight the potential benefits of adult mental health practitioners supporting parents experiencing SMI by using self‐directed parenting interventions. This study explored beliefs relating to parenting and psychosis held by practitioners working in adult mental health settings, specifically examining their beliefs about the parenting needs of adults experiencing psychosis who have dependent children, as well as their role as adult mental health practitioners. DESIGN: This study used Q methodology to explore the beliefs of mental health practitioners on psychosis and parenting. METHODS: Twenty‐one adult mental health practitioners ranked 58 items according to how much they agreed with the belief statement presented. Participants also provided additional written information and interviews to contextualize the Q methodology data. RESULTS: Three factors emerged representing three groups of practitioners with similar beliefs around psychosis and parenting. Factors were labelled: ‘Parenting interventions are worthwhile, and I’d deliver them’, ‘Parenting interventions are worthwhile, but I’m not confident to deliver them’, and ‘Parenting interventions might be worthwhile, but it’s not my responsibility’. CONCLUSION: Using parenting interventions as part of their clinical work was acceptable to most practitioners; however, some lacked confidence in their ability to work in a family‐focused way. Efforts now need to focus on enhancing practitioners’ skill, knowledge, and confidence in family‐focused approaches to provide increased and improved support to families which include a parent experiencing psychosis or other SMI. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Parenting interventions need to be made more available and accessible to parents experiencing serious mental illness (SMI), such as psychosis. Adult mental health practitioners are willing to incorporate parenting interventions into their work with parents accessing their services, but some lack confidence to do this. These results highlight the importance of equipping practitioners with the skill, knowledge, and confidence to engage in family‐focused approaches. Further research needs to involve parents experiencing SMI as well practitioners working in adult mental health services.