Shared Decision
Making
Why it matters
Care should be about you — your goals, your values, and your preferences. That means decisions about treatment should reflect what matters most to you, not just what the system assumes is important.
Shared decision-making means just that – you and your clinician are equal partners in making decisions about your care.
How it works
It is just as it sounds – you, your family, your clinician, and the scientific evidence all contributing equally when deciding on what care is going to be best for you. It brings together your goals, preferences and what you value most, with the best available evidence.
Together with your clinician, you can think through your options for care and discuss and weigh up the possible benefits and harms. You can help your clinician understand you better than anyone. This is critical to personalised care and can help you feel more confident that you are getting the support that’s right for you.
What does it mean for you?
You can:
- Discuss your preferences for care.
- Prioritise your goals for your mental health. It’s ok if your goals change over time.
- Disagree with your clinician if a care plan isn’t right for you.
- Ask questions to ensure you understand your options before making a decision.
Your clinician is there to support you reach your goals. You are partners in the care process.
Things to reflect on
How do you think shared decision making could help you?
Do you feel you have a voice in your care?
Explore the other components of the model...
Personalised care is all about putting you at the centre of your mental health care.
Multi-Dimensional Assessment
Many things matter to your mental health. Learn more by reading about Multi-Dimensional Assessment.
Outcome Monitoring
Tracking your progress can help you identify patterns in your mental health. Learn more by reading about Outcome Monitoring.
Clinical Staging
Mental health occurs along a spectrum and can change over time. Learn more by reading about Clinical Staging.
Follow these steps with your health professionals to create your path to personalised care – no matter where you are in your journey.