Palliative Care within Mental Health : Principles and Philosophy

Is there a place for palliative care within mental health? This inspirational book offers an excellent foundation for integrating best-practice specialist palliative care into serious and enduring mental health service delivery. The shared practice values and vision between these two disciplines provide an optimistic starting point from which to address the lack of palliative care service delivery in mental health practice. Focusing on the similarity in philosophy between palliative care and mental health practice, it incorporates: . person-centred practice . relationship-based connectedness . a belief in compassionate care . respect for autonomy and choice . quality-of-life issues. The book addresses the practice skills needed in preparation for competent intervention and treatment. Each chapter develops a theoretical framework which is supported by practical application. Both professionals and students of palliative care will find the interactive text and practical case studies especially valuable, as will the professional working in substance use. Its userfriendly approach will appeal to a wide range of readers in various related disciplines. ''While it could be assumed that mental health has a lot to offer palliative care, we both [feel] that palliative care could offer more to mental health practice...It is a neglected area. There is little or no literature related to palliative care within serious mental health practice, and that which does exist relates to care of the dying in terms of cancer.'' From the Preface