Favorire la partecipazione nell'ambito della salute mentale:il modello delle family group conference

The involvement of patients and families in the definition of care plan is not only a right, but also an essential element to ensure health protection. For mental health practitioners it could be really difficult to work consistently with the theoretical framework of participation- The Family Group Conference model, originated in New Zealand in the end of’80s and internationally widespread, can be an effective way of working to involve the patient, his/her family and the other significant relationship. During a sequence of meetings, families, in collaboration with professionals, work to define a common health care plan. This is the result of a dialogical exchange between technical and experiential knowledge. The paper, after presenting the model in its general features, offers an analysis of the same within the specific context of mental health.