# Staff and voice hearer perspectives on Hearing Voices Groups in the NHS: a mixed-methods cross-sectional survey

## TL;DR

This study explores the perspectives of NHS staff and voice hearers on implementing Hearing Voices Groups within the NHS, highlighting both enthusiasm and challenges.

## Contribution

The study provides new insights into the practical and ideological challenges of integrating Hearing Voices Groups into statutory mental health services.

## Key findings

- Both staff and HVG members expressed enthusiasm for HVGs in the NHS, valuing peer connection.
- Staff raised concerns about risk management in NHS-run HVGs.
- HVG members questioned whether NHS-run groups could uphold the original HVG ethos.

## Abstract

For over 40 years, Hearing Voices Groups (HVGs) have provided a space for individuals distressed by hearing voices to share their experiences openly. Most of these groups have existed in the community and adhere to a unique ethos which, at times, may be antithetical to that of mental health services. Recently, HVGs have started to be run within statutory services, including the UK’s National Health Service (NHS), raising questions about the practical and ideological barriers and facilitators to their successful implementation.

NHS staff (N = 49) and HVG members (N = 26) took part in a mixed-methods survey aimed at understanding their perspectives on delivering HVGs in the NHS.

Overall, both staff and HVG members expressed enthusiasm for HVGs in the NHS, recognising their role in fostering peer connection, though staff raised concerns about risk management and HVG members questioned whether NHS-run groups could fully uphold HVG ethos.

Whilst HVGs offer a promising user-led approach, further research is needed to understand precisely how to run these types of groups in statutory services.