Perspectives on mental health recovery from Egyptian mental health professionals: A qualitative study

Ibrahim, Nashwa; Ghallab, Eman; Ng, Fiona; Oweida, R; Slade, Mike

Abstract

Introduction:
Recovery-oriented mental health practice is an emerging approach that aims to empower individuals to define their goals and take responsibility for their own recovery. However, mental health practice in Egypt is still custodial.

Aim:
To explore perspectives of Egyptian mental health professionals on recovery.

Method:
Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 mental health professionals identified through snowball sampling.

Results:
The current study identified that functional recovery outweighed other definitions. Four facilitators of mental health recovery were identified: therapeutic relationship; family engagement; cultural sensitivity; and professionals’ self-awareness. Six barriers to recovery were found, comprising mental health stigma and lack of awareness, seeking traditional healers, shortage of psychiatrists, cost of treatment, lack of training and effective rehabilitation programs.

Discussion:
The concept of functional recovery predominates amongst nurses and other mental health professionals, which may be due to limited training and the historical lack of service user involvement in Egypt. Lack of support from family and society, inadequate training MHPs and perceived system inefficiencies are also major impeding factors for recovery.

Implications for Practice:
There is a need nurses to be involved in designing intervention programs targeting the general public, and to support increased involvement of people with mental health issues.

Citation

Ibrahim, N., Ghallab, E., Ng, F., Oweida, R., & Slade, M. (2022). Perspectives on mental health recovery from Egyptian mental health professionals: A qualitative study. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 29(3), 484-492. https://doi.org/10.1111/jpm.12754

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 8, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Apr 13, 2021
• Publication Date: Jun 1, 2022
• Deposit Date: Mar 10, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 14, 2022
• Journal: Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing
• Print ISSN: 1351-0126
• Electronic ISSN: 1365-2850
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 29
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 484-492
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jpm.12754
• Keywords: Mental Health Recovery, Recovery Meaning, Mental Health Professionals, Mental Health Nurses, Qualitative Research, Mental Health Service Planning, Enablers of Recovery, Barriers to Recovery
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/5385150
• Publisher URL: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jpm.12754
• Additional Information: This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Ibrahim, N., Ghallab, E., Ng, F., Eweida, R. and Slade, M. (2022), Perspectives on mental health recovery from Egyptian mental health professionals: A qualitative study. J Psychiatr Ment Health Nurs, 29: 484-492, which has been published in final form at https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jpm.12754. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions.