Engaging with Distress: Training in the Compassionate Approach.

INTRODUCTION: Compassionate care involves providing a welcoming environment, promoting bidirectional compassion, providing training in compassion and creating supportive organisations. To date there has not been a study evaluating Compassion interventions for the high-threat profession of mental health nursing. Neither has there been a study providing an in-depth qualitative evaluation of training and implementation. The current study aims to address these gaps in the literature. AIM: The aims were to evaluate Compassionate Mind Training-CMT for mental health nurses and to assess implementation. METHOD: Focus groups were conducted (N=28) one year later to evaluate CMT and implementation. RESULTS: Content analysis revealed four training themes: i) Useful framework; ii) Thought-provoking and exciting; iii) Appreciation of person-centred approach; iv) Need for ongoing training and supervision. Three implementation themes emerged: i) Applied approach with patients and staff themselves; ii) Environmental challenges to implementation; iii) Attitudinal challenges to implementation. DISCUSSION: Consistent with previous studies, professionals experienced reduced self-criticism and an increased self-compassion, which extended to increased compassion and reduced criticism of colleagues and patients; and professionals applying training directly to reduce patient self-criticism. IMPLICATIONS: For successful implementation formal adoption of Compassion-approaches are needed with strategic integration at all levels.