Experiential knowledge in mental health services - experiences of individuals with mental health problems and service providers in primary and specialist healthcare
Nilsson, Emmy LU
(2026)
In Lund University, Faculty of Medicine Doctoral Dissertation Series
- Abstract
- Background: The prevalence of mental health problems is increasing, placing growing pressure on mental health
services to provide care that is meaningful, accessible, and supportive for those who require it. However, current
practices often do not fully meet individuals’ needs for person-centred, recovery-oriented, and integrated care and
support. As these care and support models are being introduced, it is essential to first explore the experiential
knowledge of current practices, those who use services and those who provide them. Such experiential knowledge is
vital for informing future initiatives and ensuring that service development is grounded in scientific evidence,
relevance, and experience-based... (More) - Background: The prevalence of mental health problems is increasing, placing growing pressure on mental health
services to provide care that is meaningful, accessible, and supportive for those who require it. However, current
practices often do not fully meet individuals’ needs for person-centred, recovery-oriented, and integrated care and
support. As these care and support models are being introduced, it is essential to first explore the experiential
knowledge of current practices, those who use services and those who provide them. Such experiential knowledge is
vital for informing future initiatives and ensuring that service development is grounded in scientific evidence,
relevance, and experience-based knowledge.
Aims: To explore the experiential knowledge of individuals who require care and support for their mental health
problems, as well as of the mental health service providers who deliver such care and support within Swedish primary
and specialist mental health services.
Methods: A thematic synthesis was conducted to address the overall aim and was based on the results of four
qualitative methodologies, each applied to meet the specific aim of its respective study. Study I employed descriptive
phenomenology and Study II a constructivist grounded theory these were situated within the context of primary
services. Study III applied a reflexive thematic analysis and Study IV employed a content analysis, both conducted
within the context of specialist services.
Results. The thematic synthesis emerged in one overarching theme: ‘The need to strengthen the culture and
structures of services to address human vulnerability’ grounded in three themes, Vulnerability as not being seen or
having influence, Current organisational structures can constrain the conditions for delivering meaningful care and
support and Strengthening a culture of safety and belonging through practical collaboration. The results for each
study-specific aim are presented in the respective study.
Conclusion The experiential knowledge of primary and specialist services reveals and highlights that an
understanding of human vulnerability, as experienced by both individuals in need of care and support for their mental
health problems, and by the mental health service providers themselves, is central to the provision of meaningful
mental health care and support. Thus, strengthening the structures and culture of services requires not only
organisational reform, but also relational and moral awareness among all actors involved. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/24b42900-cec8-4c5a-8b52-8e8c7178e6da
- author
- Nilsson, Emmy
LU
- supervisor
- opponent
-
- Associate Professor Jörgensen, Kim, Roskilde University, Danmark
- organization
- publishing date
- 2026
- type
- Thesis
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- experiential knowledge, person-centred, Recovery, integrated services, Caring, Mental health services, capability approach
- in
- Lund University, Faculty of Medicine Doctoral Dissertation Series
- issue
- 2026:43
- pages
- 133 pages
- publisher
- Lund University, Faculty of Medicine
- defense location
- Belfragesalen, BMC D15, Klinikgatan 32 i Lund. Join by Zoom: https://lu-se.zoom.us/j/64301093631
- defense date
- 2026-03-27 13:00:00
- ISSN
- 1652-8220
- ISBN
- 978-91-8021-841-2
- project
- Ups and Downs in Mental Health-En ny flexibel vård och stödmodell för ökad hälsa och fungerande i vardagen bland personer med alarmerande och komplexa mbehov av psykisk hälsa
- In dialouge for mental health
- language
- Swedish
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 24b42900-cec8-4c5a-8b52-8e8c7178e6da
- date added to LUP
- 2026-03-06 07:41:54
- date last changed
- 2026-03-10 07:49:55
@phdthesis{24b42900-cec8-4c5a-8b52-8e8c7178e6da,
abstract = {{Background: The prevalence of mental health problems is increasing, placing growing pressure on mental health<br/>services to provide care that is meaningful, accessible, and supportive for those who require it. However, current<br/>practices often do not fully meet individuals’ needs for person-centred, recovery-oriented, and integrated care and<br/>support. As these care and support models are being introduced, it is essential to first explore the experiential<br/>knowledge of current practices, those who use services and those who provide them. Such experiential knowledge is<br/>vital for informing future initiatives and ensuring that service development is grounded in scientific evidence,<br/>relevance, and experience-based knowledge.<br/>Aims: To explore the experiential knowledge of individuals who require care and support for their mental health<br/>problems, as well as of the mental health service providers who deliver such care and support within Swedish primary<br/>and specialist mental health services.<br/>Methods: A thematic synthesis was conducted to address the overall aim and was based on the results of four<br/>qualitative methodologies, each applied to meet the specific aim of its respective study. Study I employed descriptive<br/>phenomenology and Study II a constructivist grounded theory these were situated within the context of primary<br/>services. Study III applied a reflexive thematic analysis and Study IV employed a content analysis, both conducted<br/>within the context of specialist services.<br/>Results. The thematic synthesis emerged in one overarching theme: ‘The need to strengthen the culture and<br/>structures of services to address human vulnerability’ grounded in three themes, Vulnerability as not being seen or<br/>having influence, Current organisational structures can constrain the conditions for delivering meaningful care and<br/>support and Strengthening a culture of safety and belonging through practical collaboration. The results for each<br/>study-specific aim are presented in the respective study.<br/>Conclusion The experiential knowledge of primary and specialist services reveals and highlights that an<br/>understanding of human vulnerability, as experienced by both individuals in need of care and support for their mental<br/>health problems, and by the mental health service providers themselves, is central to the provision of meaningful<br/>mental health care and support. Thus, strengthening the structures and culture of services requires not only<br/>organisational reform, but also relational and moral awareness among all actors involved.}},
author = {{Nilsson, Emmy}},
isbn = {{978-91-8021-841-2}},
issn = {{1652-8220}},
keywords = {{experiential knowledge; person-centred; Recovery; integrated services; Caring; Mental health services; capability approach}},
language = {{swe}},
number = {{2026:43}},
publisher = {{Lund University, Faculty of Medicine}},
school = {{Lund University}},
series = {{Lund University, Faculty of Medicine Doctoral Dissertation Series}},
title = {{Experiential knowledge in mental health services - experiences of individuals with mental health problems and service providers in primary and specialist healthcare}},
url = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/244144083/Emmy_Nilsson_-_WEBB.pdf}},
year = {{2026}},
}