Open Dialogue: A Collaborative Model of Relational Mental Health Care–Implementation in Korea and Internationally

Mental health services are increasingly shifting toward approaches that emphasize human rights, recovery, therapeutic relationships, and the social context of care. This review outlines the key features, historical development, evidence base, and international implementation of Open Dialogue (OD), and examines its emerging application and implications in Korea. OD is a relational model of mental healthcare that combines rapid crisis response, network meetings involving service users and families, multidisciplinary teamwork, and service organization that supports continuity of dialogical practice. Earlier studies reported favorable clinical and social outcomes in psychosis, while more recent research has moved toward rigorous evaluation, including randomized controlled trials. OD has been implemented across diverse mental health service settings internationally. In Korea, OD has been introduced as part of a WHO QualityRights-based framework for human rights- and recovery-oriented care and training, alongside non-coercive care, recovery support, and supported decision-making. Following research and pilot implementation, dissemination of this training framework was incorporated into the national mental health and welfare plan, and phased training is now being delivered through a national public training institution. This Korean experience suggests that OD may help translate human rights and recovery principles into relational practice within mental health services.