Open Dialogue approach – a carer’s perspective on why it could be transformative
- Written by: Maggie Clark
- Published: 3rd September 2018
Maggie Clark writes about the experiences of her and her daughter with navigating mental health services in Scotland.
I feel my daughter, Emma, would be in a very different place now, had the Open Dialogue Approach been available to her when she first accessed mental health services four years ago, as a 15 year old.
In those four years she has had 11 different psychiatrists. All with differing views but all agreeing medication and continually changing medication was the way forward. Only one of them didn’t think it needed to be long term and really engaged with both of us. All of them had differing views on the benefit of psychology. We had one family therapy session but that didn’t seem to achieve anything and wasn’t followed up.
Don’t get me started on trying to pigeon hole not just Emma but us, as a family.
Emma just wanted to get better but the system often meant the time to work with her with the right support at the right time was missed on lots of occasions by all the team. The system is broken and not coping.
As a mum and carer it can be hard to fight her corner at times, what do I know? I’m sure that’s what they think, they are “the experts”. Well, no they are not, we are the experts, so they need to listen more to us, and more importantly, they should listen to Emma! Really listen to what she is telling them, about her her condition impacts on her life! Her relationships! Her family! Feel her pain! Feel our pain and help us as we try to support her in every possible way.
Transition didn’t go well either. Emma was left in a void for weeks despite just having been discharged from hospital. By the time she was seen she was in crisis again and needed admission.
This continual crisis cycle over the past four years is heart breaking and for Emma it makes her feel that no one can help her. There is a real lack of crisis support, often it was just me.
As carers, we are not given any training on how we could help to support our loved one in a crisis. All I can do is give her sedation to let both of us get some rest. It’s what I have to do.
Where is the prevention and support? Oh and no shared records so continually telling her story its no wonder she finds it hard to engage now. Dealing with mental health services can often feel like an uphill battle and sometimes like being on a merry go round!
There are real stars out there, one community psychiatric nurse (adult), a psychologist and a psychiatrist (CAMHS) but they are few and far between. Most of the staff try their best in a model that is all about the service rather than the person, carers or family. It’s the wrong way round!
To me the Open Dialogue approach with its better support, accessible, person centred, family and asset based approach should be the norm and not something that is aspired to. It’s a no brainer!
End of page.
You may also like:
Isabella Goldie of Deafblind Scotland reflects on the value of partnership work.
Continue readingFind out more about the inaugural Power of Attorney Day taking place on 22 April 2026.
Continue readingDr Hannah Tweed reflects on 20 years of the Scottish Sensory Hub, the important work they do and why it matters.
Continue readingAs part of our 20 year anniversary, Kerry shares her reflections on how far the ALLIANCE has come, our achievements, and our impact.
Continue readingIn her latest TFN column, our Chief Officer Sara Redmond reflects on 20 years since Scotland moved to put children at the centre of policy.
Continue readingCancer care in Scotland is at a critical moment. Macmillan is calling for urgent action ahead of the parliamentary elections in May
Continue readingMhairi Campbell reflects on Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) not being recognised as having a severe impact on life.
Continue readingLucy Mulvagh shares how she used the Centre for Public Policy Practice Fellowship to examine prevention and its barriers to implementation
Continue readingLaura from Perth and Kinross HSCP shares how we can celebrate World Social Work Day through the lens of 'What Matters To You?'.
Continue readingReflections on the Children (Withdrawal from Religious Education) Bill
Continue readingLouise Hall from Pain Association Scotland reflects on the event she delivered as part of Self Management Week 2025.
Continue readingAct Now for Autistic Rights calls for a transformative Bill for autistic and neurodiverse communities
Continue readingIn the next decade, the role of digital in health and social care must embed our digital human rights principles to reduce inequalities.
Continue readingRead some reflections from ALLIANCE colleagues, who had the opportunity to sponsor and attend Scotland's Annual Human Rights Conference.
Continue reading“Our Collective Voice” is a hopeful vision for the next five years, and I encourage ALLIANCE members to bring it into their own campaigns.
Continue readingBy standing together, we can help ensure that everyone in Scotland has access to the compassionate, high quality palliative care.
Continue readingALLIANCE Scottish Sensory Hub Manager Dr Hannah Tweed reflects on the launch of the BSL network for public bodies.
Continue readingSimone Janse van Rensburg reflects on the impact of their Women Living Well event which featured as part of Self Management Week 2025.
Continue readingThe ALLIANCE’s Women’s Health Lived Experience Group reflect on their input to Phase 2 of the Scottish Government’s Women’s Health Plan.
Continue readingWellbeing Scotland’s Chief Clinical Officer Ashleigh Ronald highlights why we must shift stigmatising narratives around child abuse.
Continue readingAs we mark twenty years of the ALLIANCE, Person Centred Voices continues to show the power of listening, kindness and connection.
Continue readingThe ALLIANCE’s Women’s Health Lived Experience Group reflect on their input to Phase 2 of the Scottish Government’s Women’s Health Plan.
Continue readingThe ALLIANCE’s Women’s Health Lived Experience Group reflect on their input to Phase 2 of the Scottish Government’s Women’s Health Plan.
Continue readingThe ALLIANCE’s Women’s Health Lived Experience Group reflect on their input to Phase 2 of the Scottish Government’s Women’s Health Plan.
Continue readingThe ALLIANCE’s Women’s Health Lived Experience Group reflect on their input to Phase 2 of the Scottish Government’s Women’s Health Plan.
Continue reading