This study is based on the project "Prosjekt Felles utvikling," in Vest-Agder. Thisproject was meant to improve the expertise of professionals in the health services andthe schools in the youths’ communities, and thus contribute to the improvement ofmental health. Support for young people with difficulties in various areas would begiven by means of network meetings where one pursued dialogue through "openconversations." The purpose of this study was to collect experiences from youths whohad received this method in Flekkefjord, and thereby evaluate and contribute toadjustments of the method. The study is based on qualitative interviews with six youthswho received the method in the period 2004 to 2008. When we managed to achieve adialogue with the youths and their private and professional network, we were able toprovide help that the youths in the study liked and benefited from. My assessment isthat we were successful in two cases, partly successful in two other cases, and did notsucceed in the two last ones. The study supports previous findings which show that themethod, insofar as one achieves a dialogue, can contribute to helping the youths. "Opendialogue" in social networks is a demanding method, in the sense that it requirespersonal conviction, in addition to considerable expertise and practical facilitation. It isalso a method that gives hope of real help, partly because it so closely involves youngpeople themselves and their private network. In my study, the youth’s school and thehome appeared to be the most important arenas which the health services need toinclude in their work. My findings confirm the complexity of the challenges ofproviding assistance to troubled youths.Keywords:Open Dialogue, dialogue, private and professional networks, youths, mental health,mental health problems, mental disorders.
展开▼
