Transcript Open Dialogue

Patient and Client Council
Open Dialogue Mental Health Conference
What is Trialogue?
Paddy McGowan, Liam Mac Gabhann
Lorna Ni Cheirin, Dublin City University
www.trialogue.co
Mental Health Trialogue Network Ireland
Trialogue?
The creation of a community forum where
everyone with an interest in mental health
participates in an open dialogue
In Trialogue meetings…
► Everyone
is perceived as an expert by their
experience
► The collective expertise creates learning,
transformation and communication skills
► Respectful ground rules ensures open
dialogue is possible
► The common denominator is an interest in
mental health
Trialogue meetings in context
► Germanic
speaking countries
► Open dialogue forums
► Organisational development and delivery
► Psychosis seminars
► Mental Health leadership programme at
DCU
► Mental Health Trialogue Network
Open Dialogue
“where it is perceived as a joint action that joins
people together in a temporary mutual world
experience. Participants have to be willing to
engage in this dialogue or a situation needs to be
created where it can ensue” (Bakhtin 1981)
► Subject
to subject (with,not to!)
► Co-creating and naming their world
► Don’t have to abandon beliefs or values
Characteristics of Open Dialogue
Processes and Participation
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The dialogue is based on give and
take as opposed to one way
communication
All people concerned by the issue
under investigation should have the
opportunity to participate
Participants are obliged to help other
participants be active in the dialogue
All participants have the same status
within the dialogue arena
Experience is the point of departure
for participation
At least some of the experience the
participant has when entering the
dialogue is seen as relevant
It must be possible for all participants
to have an understanding for the
topics under discussion
(Gustavsen, 2001)
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An argument can be rejected only after
an investigation (and not for instance,
on the grounds that it arises from a
source with limited legitimacy)
All arguments to enter the dialogue
must be represented by the actors
(participants) present
All participants are obliged to accept
that other participants may have better
arguments than their own
Among discussion issues can be the
roles occupied by participants with no
one exempt from such a discussion
The dialogue should be able to integrate
a growing degree of disagreement
The dialogue should continuously
generate decisions that provide a
platform for joint action
Examples of non open dialogue
approaches
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Some community group practices
Associations & voluntary groups
Institutional norms & cultures
Routine protocol & practice
Hierarchical decision making
Interviewing to fit the boxes (monologue)
Ward rounds
Service access protocols
Management committees
Enforced democracy (majority/loudest rules)
Developing the Mental Health Trialogue
Network in Participating Communities
Emerging as a process outcome of the leadership
programme
► 7 areas and then snowballing
► Integrating with existing Trialogue groups where they
exist
► Local facilitation & sustainability
► Enabling interested people/groups to step outside their
own bubbles to experience others views perceptions and
suggested solutions
► A communication network
 Web, advertisement, local public area notices
► Parallel process to leadership teams in local mental
health communities with option for the Trialogue
participants to become active in informing and
further developing community response to
mental health issues within…
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Participating Sites
► South
Tipperary
► Dublin South Central
► Galway
► Donegal
► Dublin South West
► Mayo
► West Cork
PROJECT AIMS
►To
facilitate the establishment of community
leaders in the area of mental health
►To develop a community forum using the
‘Trialogue’ processes
►To strengthen the voice of people with
mental health problems & families/ carers
regarding needs & supports in their
communities
►To provide a focus for developing awareness
and action around mental health within
communities
HOW THE AIMS WILL BE
ACHIEVED
►Establish
monthly Trialogue meetings in 7
communities in Republic of Ireland during
2011
► Create an online Mental Health Trialogue
collaborative community accessible to
public
►Provide a learning forum for leadership
teams to develop community development
& Trialogue facilitation skills
BENEFITS OF THE
PROJECT
► Emergence
of community leaders in relating to
mental health problems and community response
► Increased understanding of mental health problems
among community members
► Increased capacity among people with mental
health and their families & carers to advocate for
and determine supports needed in communities
► Provision of a community focus for actions aimed at
developing mental health awareness and action
► Creation of an online resource and Mental Health
Collaborative Network
BENEFITS BEYOND THE LIFE
OF THE INITIAL PROJECT
► Dissemination
of learning of the impact of Trialogue
meetings on individuals, services & communities in
Irish context
► Sustainable capacity built in 7 communities to offer
Trialogue forums
► Mentoring of neighboring communities in
developing community Trialogue forums by trained
facilitators
► Continual sharing of information & learning via
online community
So what happens in Trialogue meetings
► Pick
a topic
► Right to speak or not
► Anonymity optional
► Moderated
► Freedom to leave your hat outside the door
► Guiding accord/ground rules
► An open conversation
► Transformatory in itself though not an action
group…………………
Guiding Accord
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Mobiles off
Personal safety maintained
Respect each utterance
and perspective
Take on board others
perspective
Not required to give up
own values or perspective
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One voice at a time
Option to speak or just
experience
No talking over each other
When speaking about
meeting outside respect
what was said in the space
and don’t personalise
comments
www.trialogue.co