2012 Conference

Abstract: The poster will illustrate the role the Mental Health Research Network (MHRN) is playing in the North East of England; with emphasis on their unique position to network with interested parties, for example service users, carers, academics, clinicians, NHS Trust Research and Development departments and universities.

The poster will present information gathered from a Service User and Carer Forum, held in 2001. Delegates were asked to express their opinions about:

  • how they would like to get involved in research on a practical level
  • the barriers they perceived to their involvement
  • how these barriers might be overcome.

The poster will illustrate how this information was used to inform and generate a strategy for increasing capacity for authentic PPI in Mental Health research. One direct outcome of the strategy is highlighted: a service user and carer working on the group’s successful bid to produce the MHRN’s National Good Practice Guidelines for the Recruitment and Involvement of Service User and Carer Researchers.

Issues raised for discussion while generating the strategy included:

  • The differences between ‘involvement’ and ‘participation’ in research
  • Is collaboration the way forward for PPI in Mental Health research?

Authors

Clare ~ Emily

Emily Clare has been a Clinical Studies Officer working for the Mental Health Research Network based within Northumberland Tyne and Wear NHS Trust since November 2010. Previously she has worked as an Assistant Psychologist in children's LD inpatient services and as a Primary Care Graduate Mental Health Worker.

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Fairbairn ~ Jean

Researcher, Mental Health Research Network North East Hub

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Helme ~ Debora

Researcher, Mental Health Research Network North East Hub. Debora Helme, Carer Researcher, Northumbria University is the daughter of a long term service user and is interested in mental health research and recovery. She is currently a researcher on an emancipatory project on recovery at Northumbria University.

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Kemp ~ Caroline

Researcher, Department of Social Work and Communities, Northumbria University. Caroline Kemp’s main interest is mental health, particularly bi-polar over the last 16 years, from a mother's and lay researcher's viewpoint. She is currently involved in innovative, emancipatory research at Northumbria University and also with Mental Health Research Network with guidelines on involving service users and carers in research.

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Stanton ~ Fiona

Clinical Studies Officer, Mental Health Research Network North East Hub. Fiona has worked for the Mental Health Research Network hosted by Northumberland Tyne and Wear NHS Trust since 2009. She is studying for an MSc in Clinical Research, focusing on PPI in Mental Health research. Fiona is a registered nurse (RNLD) and previously worked in LD Inpatient Forensic services.

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Todd ~ Paul

Researcher, Mental Health Research Network North East Hub

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