John’s Experience of Shared Decision Making in Primary Care: A Journey towards Recovery from Depression: A theory-based educational film about shared decision making in primary care for depression

Created in partnership with service users of local mental health charity Moving Forward Newcastle and featuring former heavyweight boxer Frank Bruno MBE, who has experience of mental health problems the film is designed to raise awareness in the public and mental health professionals about depression and the value of SDM for helping people to recover from mental health problems. The film can also be used a teaching and training aid for medical, health and social care professionals wanting to understand more about SDM. The film also serves to raise awareness of the benefits of seeking help sooner rather than later and to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health, which is still a major barrier to people seeking help and recovering from mental health problems.

The film uses a story-based approach to show SDM supports autonomy and empowerment of people with mental health problems, enabling them to make informed decisions about their treatment, which is an important component of the recovery process. It tells the story of John who is experiencing symptoms of depression, and his friend, Stacey who supports him on his journey through the primary care mental health system. The narrator guides us through the film with summaries of John’s journey at different stages. Interviews with a Health Psychologist, a General Practitioner (and expert on SDM and Clinical Lead for a Talking Therapies service are used to further explain the processes and benefits of SDM in mental health.

SDM, in which doctors and patients work together to identify the best choice of treatment, is supported by the Government’s commitment to ‘no decision about me without me’ becoming the norm in the NHS. While doctors provide expert knowledge on the available treatment options and their benefits and potential risks, patients consider their own values, beliefs, personal circumstances and attitudes towards the pros and cons of the treatment options available.