This article provides a discussion of the value of user-led research in mental health, with particular reference to the 'Strategies for Living' project at the Mental Health Foundation.

Subject terms:

mental health, mental health problems, service users, user led research, user participation, empowerment;

Content type:

research

ISSN print:

1461-5436

Commissioned as part of a scoping programme on rights, responsibilities, risk and regulation in adult social care, this paper looks at service users' perspectives on issues concerning their right to decide about the risks they wish to take in their lives and on their right to be protected from risks. It is based on existing literature presenting the views or experiences of service users or disabled people and discussions with service users and disabled people from a range of different backgrounds and experiences. It presents the views of service users on risk, the balance between risk and benefits, rights, responsibility, and the role of regulation. It identifies additional risks and fears to those commonly identified by professionals and policy makers and notes that perceptions of risk and rights are significantly different for mental health service users.

Subject terms:

mental health problems, regulation, rights, risk, risk management, service users, social care provision, user views, adult social care, disabilities;

Content type:

research

Location(s):

United Kingdom

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ISBN print:

9781859359099

In recent years there has been a considerable increase in both local and national research projects and initiatives involving (or led by) mental health service users and survivors. This article looks at a project to develop an accessible manual on ethical practice for researchers, trainers and interviewers working from the perspective of mental health service users and survivors. Interview and focus groups, a literature review and questionnaires distributed to a sample of survivor researchers were used in the study. This article summarises some of the main themes that arose from the research, and are covered in the guidelines.

Subject terms:

mental health problems, participatory research, research methods, service users, survivors, user participation, ethics, good practice;

Content type:

research

Location(s):

United Kingdom

Link:

Journal home page

ISSN print:

1474-5186

This manual offers guidance on some of the difficult and important issues to consider prior to a research project or research training programme. Aimed at mental health service users and survivor researchers, trainers and interviewers, it looks at ‘survivor-controlled’ research, though many of its guidelines are relevant to user involvement in research more generally. Drawing on the experience of survivors and service users it considers key issues such as informed consent and confidentiality with particular reference to mental health settings. It also addresses less commonly discussed issues, such as feedback to participants, dissemination and a commitment to change based on research findings.

Subject terms:

informed consent, mental health problems, participatory research, research dissemination, research ethics, survivors, user participation, confidentiality;

ISBN print:

1 86134 641 7

Report of the latest stage of a major study of service users' coping strategies. Presents a detailed descriptive study of a small number of people who were interviewed in depth to find out exactly how they coped with psychosis, depression and other forms of distress. Includes chapters on: relationships and informal support; therapeutic supports; personal and self help strategies; and a summary of the most helpful supports and strategies.

Subject terms:

informal care, interpersonal relationships, mental health problems, mental health services, self-help, service users, social care provision, user led research, user views, coping behaviour;

Content type:

research

Link:

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ISBN print:

018597

According to a new enquiry report from the Mental Health Foundation government policy is undermining community care for people with severe mental health illness. The inquiry team, led by Sir William Utting found services to be confused, fragmented, under-resourced, and all too frequently failed to meet the needs of their clients. The conclusions of the report are summarised and the key recommendations are outlined.

Subject terms:

mental health, mental health problems, multidisciplinary services, policy, politics, public inquiries, social care provision, central government, care management, community care;

Link:

Journal home page

ISSN print:

0307-5508

Report demonstrates the value of partnerships between mental health users and providers in the development of community-based crisis services. Service users and the user movement have been calling for 24 access to care and admissions . Most of the services reported were strongly led, staffed or supported by service users or those with personal experience of crisis.

Subject terms:

homeless people, housing, mental health problems, mental health services, residential care, risk, self-harm, staff, training, user participation, access to services, acute psychiatric care, crisis intervention;

ISBN print:

1 903645 26 3

Users are researching the many strategies people devise to help them live with mental health problems. 'Strategies for Living' is a three-year user-led programme of work stemming from the increasing demands from mental health service users for choices and alternatives to the traditional medical models of treatment. This article gives some of the research findings.

Subject terms:

mental health problems, mental health services, self-advocacy, self-determination, service users, severe mental health problems, survivors, therapies, therapy and treatment, user led research, user participation, user views, community mental health services, complementary therapies, empowerment;

Content type:

research

ISSN print:

1466-8785

Report of a survey designed to gain insight into the activities, treatments or therapies that people with experience of a range of different mental health problems find helpful, and to learn about the different coping strategies people develop. Covers most of the treatments and therapies people experience, including: medication; ECT; counselling; psychotherapy; alternative and complementary therapies; hobbies and leisure activities; and religious and spiritual beliefs.

Subject terms:

leisure activities, medication, mental health problems, psychotherapy, religions, self-help, service users, social care provision, spirituality, survivors, treatment, therapy and treatment, user views, complementary therapies, coping behaviour, counselling;

ISBN print:

017844