Getting involved in research
Find out more about our Advisory Groups and opportunities for patients, service users, carers and the public to shape mental health research.
We work collaboratively with members of the public and people with lived experience of mental health conditions to improve the way that we carry out research. This is called Patient and Public Involvement, Engagement and Participation (PPIEP).
Public involvement in research is defined as: “research being carried out with or by members of the public rather than to, about or for them.”
This is critical to improving research, and helps researchers consider the patient’s view.
There are many ways people can take an active role in the NIHR Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) research. For example, helping to design research projects, or advising on research documents and procedures.
What does PPIEP (Public and Patient Involvement, Engagement and Participation) mean?
Involvement is about working collaboratively with patients, people with lived experience of mental health and the public and contributing to the research process.
Engagement focuses on raising awareness and sharing research knowledge and findings, through events and campaigns.
Participation is about people taking part in a trial or study, for example trialling a new therapy.
Get involved in shaping or producing research
When the public gets involved in research, they work alongside researchers to help shape:
- what research gets done
- how it’s carried out
- and how the results are shared and applied in practice
Being involved is not the same as taking part in a trial or study to test a new treatment or care option This is called research participation). It is about being a member of the research team that works together to design and run the study.
Why is public involvement important?
By getting involved in research, you can help make research more relevant and useful to patients, carers and the public.
Your experiences of living with your condition and the care you’ve received, are valuable expertise to researchers. They may not have first-hand experience themselves of the conditions they are studying.
Sometimes the involvement of patients, carers and members of the public determines whether a project gets funded, whether it runs successfully and whether the results change practice.
You can help make a difference to the mental health treatments provided in the future.
Join one of our advisory groups
We have a range of advisory groups made up of people with lived experience of mental health conditions, and have an interest in mental health research. Researchers are invited to present their project / programmes to the group and get feedback.
Approximately 75 people, including service users and carers, are members of our advisory groups. All our group members are compensated for their time and expenses. Find out more about the different groups and how to join below.
Our Advisory Groups
Find out more about our research advisory groups and how you can get involved
More opportunities to get involved in research
Useful links - courses, networks and more
If you are interested in finding out more about mental health research, or looking for other opportunities to get involved there are a number of partner organisations you can contact.
The Service User Research Enterprise (SURE) is a unique academic research group made up predominantly of researchers with direct experience of neurodiversity, trauma violence and abuse, mental distress, and/or (ref)using mental health services.