Carer lived experience perspectives of supporting consumers of mental health services to drive motor vehicles safely

Objectives To explore the personal and professional experiences of the lived experience carer workforce in supporting people with mental ill-health or consumers of mental health services to drive a motor vehicle.Method Our research team involved carer and occupational therapy co-researchers. Guided by an interpretive paradigm and co-design principles, qualitative data were derived from semi-structured interviews. A convenience sample was used to recruit 11 carer lived experience staff working in an adult public mental health service during May to July 2023. Data were thematically analysed.Results Four themes emerged from the data analysis: (1) Carers hold so much, (2) Complex challenges to support community access (3) Driving needs to be on everyone’s radar, and (4) Tailored driving supports are needed.Discussion Carers face complex challenges when assisting consumers with learning to drive, returning to driving, or accessing the community via other means of transport. Carers want and need information, education, and support to assist consumers with driving a motor vehicle. Carers need to be included in discussions about driving. Alongside mental health clinicians, the carer lived experience workforce can actively support carers wellbeing via assisting consumers with community access.