Of the many complexities and dilemmas that exist in mental health services, relationships, and the roles within them, can be a source of both great support and equally profound distress. Lecturer at The Open University’s school of health and social welfare Jeannette Henderson maintains that a holistic approach to mental health issues needs to incorporate an understanding of roles and relationships, and to strike a balance between the dilemmas they can present

People can play multiple roles in their lives that both relate to other people and imply certain things about what they do.