Service User Advisory Group
The SUAG is a group of people with lived experience of mental illness, who have an interest in mental health research and give feedback to researchers about their work.
The NIHR Maudsley BRC Service User Advisory Group (SUAG) is a regular meeting of people with lived experience of mental illness, all of whom have an interest in mental health research. Researchers are invited to present their project/programmes to the group and get feedback.
The group meets once every two months on Wednesday afternoons, either online or in-person at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, & Neuroscience in Denmark Hill, London.
The SUAG reviews research projects of all shapes and sizes, and at a variety of different stages. Most people tend to come to the SUAG before applying for funding, or before writing an ethics application in order to get advice on the design of studies.
We’re not currently accepting new members of the SUAG, but if you’d like to get in touch, please use the contact email below.
How the SUAG can support researchers
The SUAG reviews any study which is linked (in some way) to the NIHR Maudsley BRC. We have made exceptions in the past, but we now have quite a lot of people wanting to present – so we have to prioritise BRC studies.
Using the SUAG can improve the rigour, quality and relevance of your research. We encourage you to attend at the earliest stage of your research project, rather than once it is underway. Most people who use the SUAG find it to be a rewarding, fun and interactive experience.
The SUAG is an example of Patient and Public Involvement (PPI), which is a requirement for most funding bodies. We will always recommend using the SUAG as part of a wider PPI strategy. It will not satisfy all of your PPI demands, but linking with the SUAG early can help you build relationships that are useful in developing your PPI strategy.
Contact the SUAG:
Email: SUAG@kcl.ac.uk