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The HOP-MHP Project

Supporting mental health professionals who experience mental health problems in reaching disclosure decisions through a self-help intervention

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We are currently recruiting participants to a pilot study of the HOP-MHP self-help guide. You can find out more about this study and how to take part in the information sheet.

If, having read the information sheet, you would like to participate in the pilot trial, please complete the

and return them to us at hopproject@ucl.ac.uk

For enquiries about the project please email: hopproject@ucl.ac.uk

Background to the project

This project follows on from two UK wide surveys we conducted in 2015, in collaboration with the Division of Clinical Psychology of the British Psychological Society and with support from 19 UK Clinical Psychology Doctoral training courses.

In the anonymous surveys of 512 qualified clinical psychologists and 348 trainee clinical psychologists two thirds said they had personally experienced significant mental health problems, either in the past or at present (Grice, Alcock & Scior, under review; Tay, Alcock & Scior, under review). Many had either not disclosed these experiences to anyone, or expressed concern about possible negative effects of disclosing to colleagues or superiors.

A picture emerged of practitioners who are mostly very empathic with service users in distress and support them through disclosure and help-seeking but themselves are often fearful of “being found out”, of being subject to unsympathetic and discriminatory responses and accordingly may go some way to conceal their own distress. Hence more action seems called for to support the large number who are experiencing poor mental health themselves.

In following up these findings, we have developed a self-help version of the innovative ‘Honest, Open, Proud’ (HOP) programme, using a community participatory approach throughout. The new HOP-MHP Self-Help guide is subject to a pilot trial starting in Sep 2017.

What is HOP-MHP?

HOP-MHP stands for 'Honest Open Proud for Mental Health Professionals'. It is a guided self-help intervention for mental health professionals who have lived experience of mental health challenges.

HOP-MHP seeks to support them in reaching decisions around potential disclosure of their lived experience in a way that is personally meaningful, safe and empowering. Ultimately the project seeks to tackle the dichotomy of 'us and them' (providers versus users of mental health services) and to encourage more open conversations about lived experience and stigma among mental health professionals.

The self-help guide consists of three sessions

The first session asks the person to weigh the pros and cons of disclosing, and to examine potentially hurtful self-beliefs using exercises and worksheets; the second session helps them consider different contexts and levels of disclosure – from telling a friend or trusted colleague, to giving a talk in a public setting; the final session focuses on how to tell one’s story in a way that is personally meaningful and safe.

Those who decide not to disclose at this point (either at all or in some contexts) are given space to think about their decision and its implications.

Alongside completing the self-help guide, participants have access to an anonymous web-based peer forum where they can discuss their experiences related to completing the guide and their lived experiences and thoughts around disclosure and being an expert with experience more generally.

The peer forum is a closed forum that is only open to individuals completing the HOP-MHP guide and is designed as a confidential and safe space for peer support and discussion. 

HOP-MHP is a pathfinder project for the Collaborative Learning Network, established as the key output of the British Psychological Society and New Savoy Conference Charter on Psychological Wellbeing and Resilience.

Evaluation of the HOP-MHP guide

It is possible that reflecting on your current or past difficulties and thinking about disclosure while you participate in the study may cause you distress.

If that is the case and you would like to discuss this, please contact the project's Clinical Lead, Dr Henry Clements (henry.clements@ucl.ac.uk; tel. 0207 679 1897). Henry will be happy to speak with you on a confidential basis and to help signpost you to appropriate support.

If he is unavailable then please contact the Project Lead, Dr Katrina Scior (k.scior@ucl.ac.uk; tel. 0207 679 1897). Please do also access one or more of the suggested sources of support listed below, especially if you need urgent help.

Information about other sources of support

You can find information about external sources of support, links to resources, and information about mental health in the workplace:

Self-care

As mental health professionals we can often forget the importance of looking after our own needs. Mind helpfully summarise the importance of self-care and the support available for specific mental health problems.

Fitness to Practise

As a mental health professional, you will need to think about whether your experience of mental health problems affects your fitness to practise. For some mental health professions, including practitioner psychologists, fitness to practise is governed by the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC). The HCPC works on the principle of 'professional self-regulation', by which they mean that you have personal responsibility to maintain and manage your own fitness to practise.

Further details are available on their website and also on this page.

For other professions fitness to practise is governed by different organisations. In any case you may find it useful also to refer to your own profession's guidelines.

Your Legal Rights

It may be important to know your legal rights. For example, you may want to know about your own and your employer’s obligations in relation to your mental health problems. Or you might experience discrimination relating to your mental health and want to know what you can do.

We cannot advise you on your legal rights but we set out details of some organisations who can help and resources that may be useful.

Whilst we hope you find these helpful, it is important that you take your own independent legal advice in relation to your rights.

If you are a member of a union we recommend you contact them for legal advice.