Consumer Focus Groups

Background: Consumer organizations involved in the Eastern Region Behavioral Health Initiative of the St. Louis Regional Health Commission sought to ensure that services were streamlined, easily accessible, and focused on consumer needs. To this end, in February 2007, they solicited feedback from consumers and family members affected by mental illness and substance abuse through a series of focus groups. Methods: Fifty-five individuals with severe mental illness and their family members, from across the St. Louis Region, shared their experiences and struggles in the mental health and substance abuse systems. The data, which were coded for six focus groups, were analyzed, summarized, and presented to system providers and community stakeholders. Results: Substantial problems still remain with medication management services, quality of inpatient care, and stigmatization. Conclusions: Consumer input is imperative to the successful implementation of any work related to systems change to both affirm and redirect organizational priorities. Stigma emerged as a pervasive theme throughout the six focus groups and was subsequently incorporated as a priority for improving services in the system. Stigma and cultural competency training is needed for health-care staff workers at all levels to increase access effectively to services.