Patient and public involvement (PPI)
Patient and public involvement (PPI) is crucial for research into all health conditions, but there are particular issues researchers need to think about when they're planning research studies in mental health. On this page we share perspectives from public contributors, mental health researchers and funding panel members on what good patient and public involvement is in mental health research, and the resources that are out there to support researchers to do it well.
The videos below feature experienced contributors in mental health research talking to researchers about their role. The conversations offer lots of useful insight and guidance for researchers.
Short on time? Take a look at these shorter clips
PPI: researcher perspectives
Heather Boult interviews Dr Simon Hackett - an art therapist and researcher, about his experiences of PPI, including the important lessons he learnt setting up a new PPI group.
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Top links and resources mentioned in the conversation
In the conversation, Heather refers to the publication that she co-authored: https://arc-swp.nihr.ac.uk/publications/public-involvement-in-health-research-what-does-good-look-like-in-practice-public-involvement-in-health-research-what-does-good-look-like-in-practice/ - filled with important principles and practical tips.
Heather is a member of her local Patient and Public Involvement Group: PenPEG https://arc-swp.nihr.ac.uk/ppie/
Researchers are encouraged to connect with similar groups via their local NHR Research Design Service.
PPI: public contributor perspectives
In this 13 minute conversation, psychologist researcher Emma Černis interviews Heather Boult - a lived experience researcher with 12 years' experience as a public contributor in a wide range of different mental health research studies.
Short on time? Take a look at these shorter clips
Make connections with professionals
PPI enriches research
Top links and resources mentioned in the conversation
In the conversation, Heather refers to this publication filled with principles and practical advice which she co-authored: https://arc-swp.nihr.ac.uk/publications/public-involvement-in-health-research-what-does-good-look-like-in-practice-public-involvement-in-health-research-what-does-good-look-like-in-practice/
PPI: funder perspectives
In part one of this conversation, Gail Thornton, a lived experience expert who sits on national funding committees, and Jo Welsman, a PPI Lead for the NIHR Research Design Service (RDS), discuss their experience of what makes great PPI in mental health research.
In the second part of their conversation Gail and Jo talk about the red flags for funding panels when it comes to PPI, and different terminology that's needed.
In the final part of their conversation Gail and Jo talk about the roles of public co-applicant and the PPI lead, and share useful tips.
Top links and resources mentioned in the conversation
https://www.nihr.ac.uk/documents/definition-and-role-of-the-designated-ppi-patient-and-public-involvement-lead-in-a-research-team/23441
https://www.nihr.ac.uk/explore-nihr/support/research-design-service.htm
Public co-applicants in research guidance from the Learning for Involvement NIHR website.
This NIHR paper is relevant to Gail's comment in the conversation about involvement in governance: https://www.nihr.ac.uk/documents/good-practice-guidelines-on-the-recruitment-and-involvement-of-public-members-on-trial-steering-committees-tscs-study-steering-committees-sscs/27348