As rates of dangerous drinking increase, services must improve their understanding of the needs of people with alcohol‐related brain damage such as Korsakoff syndrome (KS). This study looked at indications of change in key functioning areas for four people with KS living in a new supported living environment. The research highlighted the individualised and complex needs of people with KS and suggests that three specific factors may influence changes in functioning.

Self-advocacy involves individuals speaking out for themselves rather than others speaking for them. Using an action research methodology, the study aimed to explore the views of individuals experiencing mental ill-health regarding self-advocacy. Focus groups were set up as an exploratory method to obtain information for the design of an interview schedule. Interviews were conducted with 35 service-users to determine what encouraged and prevented them from speaking out. Focus groups were also used to obtain the views of mental health workers regarding service-user self-advocacy. Findings from the project emphasised the importance of one-to-one relationships between service-users and staff and underlined the importance of providing service- users with information. The project highlighted training needs both for service-users and mental health workers.