Citizenship as mental health. A study protocol for a randomised trial of awareness interventions for mental health professionals

Purpose The purpose of this study is to demonstrate how mental health is tied to citizenship, and to help professionals understand mental health in the context of social rights and responsibilities, to move towards a right-based practice. Design/methodology/approach The author will explore the concept of citizenship together with mental health service users’, relatives’ and professionals’ organisations. Using a qualitative analysis of this exploration, this study will develop, implement and evaluate, using a randomised design, awareness interventions with mental health professionals. Findings The author will use thematic analysis for qualitative data and multilevel mixed-effects linear models to evaluate the effect of the awareness interventions. Social implications The results of the project will enable conversations between mental health professionals, relatives and service users that might help them understand mental health as part of citizenship. Originality/value To the best of the author’s knowledge, this will be the first controlled study of standardised citizenship-based awareness interventions for mental health professionals.