Recovery-oriented nurse-led interventions and leadership within the triad

More people with mental health vulnerabilities are living and recovering within their own communities. Family, friends and other relatives often play an important role in this process. DEN-GGZ, which stands for Expertise and Proximity in Mental Health Care, brings together clients, relatives, researchers and professionals to explore how they can collaborate more effectively and how nursing professionals can support this collaboration, contributing to recovery-oriented care that reflects people’s everyday lives.

Background

Mental health care is changing. Inpatient stays are becoming shorter and more support is provided within people’s own communities. Recovery is about more than reducing mental health symptoms. It also involves relationships, making your own choices, participating in society and living a meaningful life.

This development also affects relatives. They often play an important role in recovery but may experience a considerable burden and do not always feel sufficiently involved or supported. At the same time, nursing professionals lack evidence-based, practical approaches to support collaboration with clients and their relatives.

DEN-GGZ therefore aims to strengthen collaboration between clients, relatives and professionals. The project develops knowledge and practical interventions that contribute to appropriate, recovery-oriented care and greater autonomy for people with mental health vulnerabilities and their relatives.

Who is the projectteam?

DEN-GGZ is coordinated by the Research Group Care & Innovation in Psychiatry at NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences. The project is led by Dr Sonja Kuipers, Professor Nynke Boonstra and Associate Professor Kor Spoelstra are among the NHL Stenden researchers involved. They collaborate with researchers, nursing professionals, experts by experience, family peer experts and representatives from health care, education and relatives’ organisations.

Students also take part in the research programme. Bachelor’s and master’s students conduct research and work on assignments arising from challenges in professional practice. A national learning network connects education and research with everyday mental health care practice.

Project approach

DEN-GGZ examines the issue from three perspectives: people with mental health vulnerabilities, their relatives and nursing professionals. The project explores what people need to support their recovery, the role relatives play and what professionals need to facilitate effective collaboration.

Clients, relatives and professionals are actively involved throughout the research process. They contribute to research questions, data collection and analysis, and help develop and test interventions.

The knowledge gained is brought together in a national learning network, where recovery-oriented, nurse-led interventions are developed and tested across different settings, from acute to non-acute care and from inpatient to community-based care. This helps ensure that the solutions developed reflect both professional practice and the everyday lives of clients and their relatives.

What are the main (or preliminary) results?

DEN-GGZ started in 2026, so final results are not yet available. Over the next four years, the project will generate new knowledge about the recovery needs of people with mental health vulnerabilities, the experiences and needs of relatives, and the role of nursing professionals in collaboration between clients, relatives and professionals.

This knowledge will be translated into nurse-led interventions and practical tools for health care and education. DEN-GGZ will also establish a sustainable national learning network in which clients, relatives, professionals, education and research continue to learn together.

Ultimately, the project aims to support personal, social and clinical recovery, strengthen people’s autonomy and participation in society, and recognise the needs of those around them. It also aims to strengthen the position of nursing professionals in recovery-oriented, triadic care.