Critical thinking stop point 14.1

Possible answer to: How might the implications of the Maastricht Approach to hearing voices be implemented in the routine practices of acute inpatient or community mental health teams?

Some services facilitate community or ward based hearing voices groups. Usually these are convened by members of the Hearing Voices Network and are independent of routine care planning.

Interested staff, especially those working psychosocially, can formulate care plans that build upon individuals’ own interpretations of voices and are inclusive of, and complement, people’s own strategies for coping with any distress. Progressive staff and care teams will respect individual choices to live with voices without feeling the need to pathologise or treat with medication.

Members of established hearing voices networks and groups can also be invited to play a strategic role in involvement forums or practitioner education.