S22: Service-users leading and co-producing mental health research within an academic context – current opportunities and obstacles. Reflections from three academic ‘allies’.

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By September 21, 2017 No Comments

Authors: Nicola Hancock, Justin Scanlan, Anne Honey

Year: 2017

Event: 2017 TheMHS Conference

Subject: Research & Evaluation Informing Practice

Type of resource: Conference Presentations and Papers

Abstract: The value of consumer engagement and leadership in mental health service evaluation and research is now well evidenced. Nationally and internationally, consumer or service user positions, research units or centres are being developed and explored within the academic context. Each of these ‘models’ or strategies present differing advantages and challenges. Within the university context there are simultaneously drivers and barriers to genuine and sustainable mental health service-user engagement and leadership in research. Perhaps the most common challenge is sustainability within a context of short-term competitive research grant cycles. This is not a presentation with answers. Rather it is a presentation in which we as non-service-user academic researchers will share our knowledge of what practices exist internationally and our challenges and advances in striving towards a more sustainable model of consumer-lead research within our own university.

Learning Objectives
Learning Objective 1: People attending this presentation will gain insight into the range of fledgling and more-established mental health consumer research positions, units or centres existing within universities internationally as well as the advantages and challenges present with each.

Learning Objective 2: Gaining a rich understanding of current ‘structures’ that support consumer engagement and leadership in mental health research will facilitate future policy and practice development within both mental health services and universities that could enhance sustainable ‘models’ to maximize opportunities for service-user led research.

References
Van Beinum, M. "User-led research and evidence in psychiatry." The British Journal of Psychiatry 180.6 (2002): 549-550.
Wallcraft, J., Schrank, B., & Amering, M. (2009). Handbook of service user involvement in mental health research (Vol. 6). John Wiley & Sons.

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