Would you like to learn more about, inclusive participatory, user led, research methods?

2006 Conference

We are a Mental Health Service User Led Research Group based in Wolverhampton; we have been operational for approximately 4 years. We are a diverse group of individuals, members’ specialist research areas include: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender, Black Minority Ethnic and Women’s Mental Health issues.

We came together as a group out of a shared desire to effect change and improve services for mental health service users.

We work in partnership with the Voluntary Sector Council, Local Authority Mental Health Commissioners and the Primary Care Trusts Clinical Governance Department.

Workshop Theme:

To encourage participants to think about using more participative user led research methods.

We will be introducing Participatory Appraisal (P.A.) a research method that avoids using more `traditional’ less accessible methods such as questionnaires.

Workshop Methods:

We will begin the session by giving the participants a very visual overview of Participatory Appraisal (P.A.) and some examples of how it can be used.

Followed by a very practical session with a high level of audience participation, we will support the participants to use P.A. methods, in small groups to ensure that participants feel safe and comfortable and that everyone who would like to take part, gets the opportunity to do so.

Workshop Outcomes:

It is hoped that by the end of the session participants will have:

• Gained an understanding of Participatory Appraisal.
• Learnt some new participative methods of research.
• Considered how they can use Participatory Appraisal in their own research.
• Enjoyed the session and made some new contacts.
• Shared their own experiences and knowledge of research.

Authors

Garlick ~ Steve

RENEW (Research Evaluation Network Educating Wolverhampton).lnbrSteve Garlick has been a volunteer with R.E.N.E.W. since it commenced approximately 4 years ago. He is also a Telephone Counsellor for 'No Panic', an organisation who supports sufferers of Anxiety Disorder. His main interest is OCD and has been involved as both a researcher and participant on this condition.

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Rhodes ~ Janet

RENEW (Research Evaluation Network Educating Wolverhampton). Janet Rhodes is a Director of Hear-Our-Voice, a User Led Mental Health Action Group and on the Committee for the local Women's Wellbeing Centre. She has been involved with R.E.N.E.W. in developing, carrying-out and collating research in Inpatient and Outpatient CPA Surveys, using Participatory Appraisal, Interview and Questionnaire methods of research.

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Ryan ~ Donna

RENEW (Research Evaluation Network Educating Wolverhampton). Donna Ryan is a founder member of R.E.N.E.W., and has worked on many projects including assessing care plans for service users, and a 'typical day' on psychiatric wards for both inpatients and staff. She also founded an LGBT group with the aim of improving care, right across the health spectrum.

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Viner ~ Jane

Mental Health Empowerment Co-ordinator, RENEW (Research Evaluation Network Educating Wolverhampton). Jane Viner's Mental Health Empowerment Role includes ensuring that individuals with Lived Experience are involved at a strategic level in the development of policy, planning and delivery of services. Jane also supports the development of User Led Evaluation and Research and User Involvement in the Staff Training and Development Process.

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