This is one of a series of discussion papers designed to help generate debate on how best to promote and support recovery from long-term mental health problems in Scotland. It discusses some of the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches to research and argues that qualitative methods are suitable for the generation of rich, narrative accounts of lived experiences that may aid the identification of factors promoting recovery.
The importance of Scottish research is acknowledged and a summary of some of the ethical issues raised by qualitative research is given. It concludes that a qualitative research study of people’s experiences in Scotland will establish an evidence base that can be used for service development and the generation of further research that will contribute to the understanding and promotion of recovery.