Patients as professionals: enhancing inpatient care for psychiatric patients in Winnipeg.

Abstract

Self-help in mental healthcare has made some profound strides over the last two decades. One area that has gone unnoticed is the greatly increased cooperation between self-help organizations and acute care psychiatric units. In this article, the author describes a program at Winnipeg's PsycHealth Centre that illustrates a new approach to combining self-help and the formal acute care system. It provides support, education, commonality and caring, and has produced remarkable reviews from patients, families and caregivers.