About this research

Scottish policy and law underline the importance of supporting family carers and using their knowledge and experience to increase the effectiveness of mental health care and treatment.

In particular, the Mental Health (Care & Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 (MHCT Act), and Caring Together, Carers Strategy for Scotland (Scottish Government, 2010), emphasise involvement and participation of carers in mental health services.

While there is a growing body of research about carers’ experiences generally, the needs and experience of those who support individuals in forensic (secure) mental health services (forensic carers) have been neglected.

Support in Mind Scotland (SiMS) and the Forensic Network thus commissioned this independent study to examine what they identified as ‘significant gaps and inconsistencies’, focusing in particular on the views and experiences of forensic carers.