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FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions.

Who is the NiRA designed for?

This assessment tool has been developed for use in tertiary and community mental health settings with people who are recovering from a first episode of mental illness.
It has been designed for mental health clinicians from all professional backgrounds to use in collaboration with mental health service users. It is not intended to be completed by service users on their own.

Similarities will exist between the needs of people in this population, and people who are at risk of developing a mental illness, people who have experienced a chronic mental illness, and people who are recovering from physical illnesses. However, this tool may not accurately or appropriately capture these, and it is not recommended for use beyond the population for which it was developed.

When should the NiRA be used?

In the first instance, it is recommended that the NiRA is undertaken when acute symptoms of mental illness have subsided, and the service user is capable of engaging in a meaningful conversation for approximately 30 minutes. It can then be repeated as many times as is required over the coming weeks to months to early years after a first episode of mental illness. Needs are dynamic, and may change with altered circumstances, relationships, treatment plans and environments. The NiRA may be considered a useful tool whenever significant changes in the life of a service user occurs

Who should be 'in the room' at the time of assessment?

Mental health clinicians and service users may have different opinions regarding which needs require prioritisation. For this reason, it is recommended that any discussion regarding how to prioritise and meet needs is a collaborative effort. Sometimes family members may be involved in discussion around specific needs, or for the whole assessment. If this is to occur, it is vital that permission from the service user is sought prior to this occurring. A number of the questions in the NiRA are deeply personal, and the involvement of other parties without prior consent from the service user may undermine the process.

What about needs which are not included in the NiRA?

Whilst every effort has been made to ensure a broad array of needs are included in this assessment tool, there may be needs that people are experiencing that are not included. If these are identified by service users, it is important to acknowledge these, and to work towards a plan for how these may be addressed. The 'Priorities and Planning' page of the assessment tool can be used to document any needs not identified on the main assessment pages.

Resources

For more related documentation and material used in this project, head to theresources page

Learn More.

Item of Assessment

This page clarifies what types of needs the tool explores—practical, daily‑living, physical health, informational, emotional‑psychological, and relationship needs—and why some needs overlap across categories. It also outlines examples within each category to guide structured discussion during a NIRA assessment.

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Project Development

This section explains how the NIRA tool was developed, outlining its research foundations, collaboration with mental health services, and iterative testing with clinicians and service users. It describes why the tool was created, how its items were refined, and how evidence shaped the final NIRA assessment framework.

FAQ

The FAQ page outlines the purpose of the NIRA tool and clarifies who should use it, when it’s appropriate, and how the assessment is carried out. It explains the expected time commitment, the importance of completing it collaboratively, and who may participate in the conversation.

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Introduction

What is the NIRA tool? Who does it support? How might it help identify and prioritise recovery needs in mental health settings.

Here we outline the tool’s purpose, its evidence‑based development, and its role in guiding collaborative conversations between service users and practitioners across diverse recovery domains.

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