Webinar: Supporting people’s needs for love and intimacy: what’s the role for mental health social care?

Abstract

This talk will discuss the needs for support with developing positive romantic/intimate relationships of people using mental health services. It will provide an overview of current evidence regarding the views of practitioners and people using mental health services, and the perceived barriers and challenges with discussing or offering support with romantic/intimate relationships. Different models of care and support, and potential learning from other social care sectors, will be considered.

This talk hopes to encourage a conversation about whether and how social workers and social care staff could and should be talking to people using mental health services about their needs and wishes for romantic/intimate relationships, and what support could be offered?

Biography

Brynmor Lloyd-Evans is Professor of Mental Health and Social Inclusion in the Division of Psychiatry at UCL. He is a co-Director of the NIHR Policy Research Unit in Mental Health and of the BRC Loneliness and Social Isolation in Mental Health Research Network. Bryn’s main research interests are mental health crisis care, and social relationships and loneliness. He is a registered social worker who has practised in forensic mental health supported housing and Community Mental Health Teams.