Advance Statements for Black African and Caribbean people

Advance Statements for Black African and Caribbean people (AdStAC) is a research project working with Black (and mixed with Black heritage) service users who have been previously detained under the Mental Health Act, their carers/supporters and mental health staff to co-produce resources for advance choice documents.

An advance choice document allows service users to have a say in how they wish to be treated during a future crisis or relapse, by making professionals aware of their advance wishes and preferences as requests and/or refusals of treatment. Research evidence (see list below) shows they can reduce detentions under the Mental Health Act and improve relationships between service users and mental health professionals.

Black people are detained under the Mental Health Act more than any other ethnic group and tend to have a lack of say in their mental health care, resulting in a lack of trust in health services.

Through making resource available for ACD production we aim to:

• reduce compulsory admissions under the Mental Health Act
• improve the experience of Black people using mental health services
• better the therapeutic relationships between service users, carers/supporters and mental health staff
• reduce coercion in mental health care and give Black service users a say in their mental health care  

For more information about the study contact: Jonathan Simpson (Research Assistant): jonathan.simpson@slam.nhs.uk

 

Videos

Dr Shubulade Smith and Dr Tony Davies discussing ACDs: Advance Choice Documents (vimeo.com)

Short video clips:

 Why ACDs may benefit black service users 

 How ACDs can work for service users, carers and staff

 Co-production and working together for better experiences

 What happens when the treating team do not follow the ACD?  (3:21):  https://vimeo.com/708133467/fce5528321

 What if a service user changes their mind? (1:38):  https://vimeo.com/708135358/ec7859c670

 What if a service user is skeptical about ACDs? (2:48):  https://vimeo.com/708136036/2cc1bd49a5

 Completing ACDs in collaboration (2:41):  https://vimeo.com/708196328/d3500129e0

 How ACDS may potentially improve relationships and understanding (2:10):  https://vimeo.com/708139145/71b136d33f