Making a difference in the mental health services

2004 Conference

This paper provides an account of an action research project undertaken by Suresearch, a Midland based user-led network of people using mental health services and their allies involved in research and education. This project, commissioned by the Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Trust, was designed to promote user involvement in clinical governance in the Trust. Building on work previously undertaken by Suresearch on what service users valued in mental health services in Birmingham, this project focused on three service sites in the Trust. Suresearch researchers worked with service users and staff on those sites to audit the service being provided from a users’ perspective and identify changes that could be made to make the services more effective in supporting users mental health and recovery. The paper describes the project and reflects on lessons learnt in its dissemination and implementation phases.