Hense C., McFerran K., Killackey E., McGorry P. (2016) How Can Research Practice Promote Young People’s Recovery from Mental Illness? A Critical Look at The Australian Context”

This paper addresses the degree of congruence between recovery principles and research practices in a leading Australian youth mental health research centre. Investigators address the responsibility of research systems in promoting social change, through a critical perspective of the ways in which research practices support or stifle recovery philosophy. Method: A Critical Interpretive Synthesis was undertaken with a sample of research studies from the largest youth mental health centre in Australia. Analysis involved a critical interpretation of the data for meaning, context and philosophical influences. Results: Results revealed that despite an increasing number of studies addressing recovery-congruent topics, research methods showed little progression towards enacting recovery principles. Investigators interpret the ways in which the continued dominance of experimental designs informed by the Positivist paradigm lacks recovery practices of user involvement or acknowledgement of multiple perspectives. Conclusions: Implications of a research culture that privileges dominant paradigms are discussed. Investigators assert the need for greater diversity in research methods in youth mental health, and discuss the relevance of participatory research to recovery principles. Systemic issues are explored, with suggestions for implementing change both in, and beyond, the Australian context.

Keywords: youth mental health, recovery, participatory research, research paradigm

Feature image taken by Flickr under Creative Commons Licence – the original can be accessed here.

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Youth Voice Journal is an international, multidisciplinary, refereed journal that publishes theoretical contributions and empirical studies on international issues affecting young people. In particular, the Journal aims to: - provide a medium, especially for young researchers and young academics, to inform debates around social policy through high quality research; - provide a platform for the intellectual exchange of ideas around the globe with the aim of influencing policies and practices; - actively encourage and aide those young people whose voice is rarely heard by policy makers to contribute to the journal. Youth Voice Journal is published by IARS Publications and edited by Dr. Theo Gavrielides.

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