At the University of Essex we believe it is important for mental health research to involve people with experience of the issues being researched.
We aim to ensure that individuals who have expertise through their own experience have an equal voice in the design and conduct of research.
In 2022 we established a mental health research stakeholder group to support our NIHR East of England Applied Research Consortium mental health inequalities project.
The stakeholder group includes six experts by experience who have been part of the planning and design of our research from the outset and have formed a Patient and Public Involvement Advisory Group involved in planning our dissemination work and consulting on the design and content of this report.
The NIHR East of England Applied Research Consortium theme on Inclusive Involvement in Research for Practice Led Health and Social Care is leading a project enabling Gypsy, Roma and travelling families to co-produce research priorities and identify ways to reduce barriers to accessing physical and mental health care.