Evidence Library

Abstract: This article reports on the findings from a survey of service users involved in mental health research in the UK. The respondents included a range of people, from employed researchers through to volunteer service user representatives. The respondents reported that their involvement had had a positive impact on the quality of research. In particular, they had helped identify topics and research questions, and contributed to research design. When involved in data collection, service users highlighted being able to reach ‘hard to reach’ groups and increasing the quality of information obtained in interviews and focus groups by ensuring participants ‘felt understood’. More generally, they felt their presence challenged academics to consider alternate worldviews. The majority of respondents had found their involvement to be very positive. It had provided them with a sense of purpose and belonging, and enhanced their self-respect. However, a small minority felt involvement had had a negative impact on their mental health. This was due to the pressure of work, exposure to distressing material or an experience of workplace conflict.

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Categories: health
Identifying topics, prioritising and commissioning
Designing research
Undertaking research
Analysing and interpreting
impact on research
impact on service users involved
impact on researchers
impact of public involvement
reflecting on public involvement in research
journal article

Date Entered: 2014/08/19

Date Edited: 2014/08/19