Common use of Service User Clause in Contracts

Service User. Although most widely used now, many people with mental health problems strongly object to this term. The term ‘user’ or ‘service user’ is now most commonly used to refer people with mental health problems who are receiving service from health and social service. Generally, service user is seen as least biased term acceptable to all the stakeholders in the mental health system. This term does not go beyond the fact the people with mental health problems are engaging with service they receive and that they are of use to them (▇▇▇▇ et al., 2009). In the mental health system, service user is defined as a person with mental health problems who has availed any kind of mental health care and caregiver is defined as a person primarily responsible for caring of a person with mental illness (Tritter, 2009). This MPhil thesis has adopted ‘service user’ term when referring to people with mental health problems.