"People just don't understand their role in it." Collaboration and coordination of care for service users with complex and severe mental health problems.

PURPOSE: To explore professionals' and service users' experiences and perceptions of interprofessional collaboration and coordination for service users with complex and severe mental health issues.

DESIGN AND METHODS: A qualitative study involving semi-structured interviews of professionals and individual interviews of service users. Data were analyzed by thematic analysis.

FINDINGS: Participants described challenges and suggested improvements concerning Distribution of roles, responsibilities, and tasks; Communication; and Knowledge and attitudes.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Mental health nurses and other professional helpers should have a particular focus on common aims, clear division of roles, planning and timing of interventions, and communication with other professionals and service users.