Gilbert Lemmens
Motivation
What is your main driver for doing research?
My main driver is to better understand the psychosocial aspects of different somatic and mental health problems and to improve their recovery by developing qualitative psychosocial interventions. Hereby, attention is paid not only to the person suffering with somatic or mental health problems, but also to the close network members, particular the family members.
Why do you believe that strengthening mental health is so important?
Mental health problems are widespread. Persons with mental health problems are often suffering from stigmatization, social isolation and exclusion and their close network members often feel burdened and little supported by the mental health care workers. Strengthening mental health will hopefully contribute to better support for them, more inclusion and less stigmatization.
How could research change the world?
Doing research is a great way of questioning yourself, what you’re doing as a mental health worker. New insights and understanding deriving from research results will help to improve mental health care.
With whom outside academia did you already collaborate and achieved important results?
Several psychotherapeutic interventions have been developed with mental health care workers such as multi-family groups for depression and eating disorders, family support groups for mentally lll offenders, psychoeducation for rumination in depression and for Generalized Anxiety Disorder.
Publications
https://biblio.ugent.be/person/802000456340