Has Family Engagement Finally Gained Foothold in Forensic Mental Healthcare?

Despite advancements in promoting family engagement in mental health settings, limited involvement of family members persists in forensic mental healthcare. Forensic mental healthcare professionals face various barriers in engaging families, including a patient-centered approach and resource constraints. However, limited understanding exists of professionals' experiences with family engagement, which is crucial for improving care practices in this setting. Consequently, this study investigates the evolution of professionals' experiences with family engagement from 2015 to 2021 in Flanders, Belgium. Qualitative methods were employed, including focus group interviews in 2015 and individual interviews in 2021 with 23 forensic mental healthcare professionals. Thematic analysis is employed to identify patterns and changes over time. The Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) checklist was utilised to report the study. The analysis revealed that while initial steps towards family engagement in forensic mental healthcare have been taken, full integration in organisational structures is still lacking. Future efforts should focus on involving family organisations and caregivers, addressing barriers like time and resource constraints, and fostering a cultural shift towards family engagement. Further research involving a broader range of stakeholders is needed to enhance family engagement initiatives in forensic mental healthcare settings.