This thesis investigated the views, opinions and experiences of children, young people and parents of mental health services and Triple P parent training using qualitative methods. It is divided into four separate papers, the first three written as standalone journal papers. Paper 1 is a systematic review and synthesis of qualitative studies exploring children’s views and opinions of mental health services. The review used specific databases, a search of qualitative journals and a general Internet search to identify relevant studies. The paper utilized inclusion/exclusion criteria and a quality appraisal assessment. Fifteen studies meeting inclusion and quality criteria were identified exploring the experiences of 378 children and young people aged between 5 and 16 years, from a range of countries. The review then involved synthesising the findings of these studies to generate several overarching themes. Themes that emerged were; the stigma of mental health difficulties; alliance making and breaking properties; the physical location of services; consent and confidentiality; preferences for creative therapies and a recognition of therapeutic stages. Paper 2 is an original research study that explored the experiences of parents of Triple P parent training. Eight parents were interviewed using a semi-structured protocol. Data were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Emergent themes were; a search for a cause; the stigma of parenting difficulties; the destruction and recreation of family life and a shift in perspective. Paper 3 explores the views and opinions of children whose parents have recently undertaken Triple P parent training. This qualitative study used ‘In My Shoes’, a computer assisted interview tool, to explore the experiences of eleven children from England aged between five and sixteen years. Children’s data were analysed using Thematic Analysis. Children’s themes were; a search for a cause; changes in life brought about by Triple P and wider difficult life circumstances. Parents and children’s narratives broadly agreed though children talked about being smacked before Triple P and parents did not comment about chastisement. The final section of the thesis was a critical appraisal of the literature review, research study and research process as a whole, including methodological reflections, implications for future research and clinical practice, and the researcher’s personal reflections in undertaking the research.

Papers one and two have been prepared for submission to the journal Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice. Paper one provided a review of studies investigating staff views about psychosocial aspects of recovery in psychosis. Fifteen studies met the criteria for the review. The first eight studies investigated staff views about recovery in psychosis more broadly. The remaining studies were grouped together according to similarities of recovery themes being investigated. Each study was summarised and critiqued with regards to their findings and limitations. Limitations to the review are also considered. The overall literature is evaluated and discussed with regards to clinical implications and suggestions for future research. Paper two investigated staff and service user views about mindfulness-based cognitive therapy groups for psychosis (MBCT). Q-methodology was used to explore participants’ beliefs about a range of views about MBCT for psychosis and to compare similarities and differences between views. Staff and service user data were analysed separately. Analysis resulted in a single consensus factor for staff views, and four factors for service user views about MBCT for psychosis. Overall, the staff sample strongly disagreed that mindfulness is harmful but were uncertain about its usefulness in the treatment of psychosis. The service user sample advocated the utility of mindfulness interventions for promoting wellbeing and reducing the symptomatic distress associated with psychosis. Paper three provides a critical reflection of the systematic review (paper one), and the empirical paper (paper two). An appraisal of the research process as whole is provided, in addition to how findings from paper one and paper two relate to the wider context of theory, research and practice.

No / This article starts from recognition that child sexual abuse is perpetrated in all communities, but appears to be under-reported to varying degrees in different communities. It acknowledges that children who have been sexually abused will usually benefit from services designed to assist them in moving on from this experience and to provide future protection from perpetrators. It notes, in particular, the apparent disproportionately low take-up of relevant services by members of Asian communities in Britain. It places this in the context of reported responses to child sexual abuse in Pakistan, India and Bangladesh and explores the likely impact of factors arising from cultural norms in relation to family structure and role relationships. It reports on work begun within Asian communities in Bradford to increase awareness of and appropriate responses to child sexual abuse which hopefully address issues which are or relevance elsewhere. In particular, it discusses responses to a preliminary questionnaire, discussions with community groups, a consultation event held in April 2003, and a multilingual information booklet produced as a result. It urges respectful dialogue with women, men, children and young people in Asian communities as being essential to progress regarding appropriate responses to child sexual abuse