Reflections, impact and recommendations of a co-produced qualitative study with young people who have experience of mental health difficulties
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Background
There is limited evidence of genuine equal partnership where power is shared with young people with mental health difficulties throughout all research stages, particularly in data collection and analysis.
Objective
To describe how our qualitative study, exploring young peoples’ perceptions on the feasibility of using technology to detect mental health deterioration, was co-produced using principles of co-production, whilst reflecting on impact, challenges and recommendations.
Methods
Young people with experience of mental health difficulties were appointed and then worked with researchers throughout all research stages. The study was evaluated against the five principles of co-production. Reflections from researchers and young people were collected throughout.
Results
Seven young people formed an initial Young People's Advisory Group (YPAG); three became co-researchers. Reflection was key throughout the process. Sharing power became easier and more evident as trust, confidence and mutual respect grew over time, particularly after a safe space was established. The safe space was crucial for open discussions, and our WhatsApp group enabled continual communication, support and shared decision-making. The resulting co-produced topic guide, coding framework, thematic map, papers and presentations demonstrated significant impact.
Conclusions
To our knowledge, this is the first qualitative mental health study to be co-produced using the principles of co-production. Our rigorous assessment can be utilized as an informative document to help others to produce meaningful co-produced future research. Although co-production takes time, it makes significant impact to the research, researchers and co-researchers. Flexible funding for spontaneous suggestions from co-researchers and more time for interview training is recommended.
There is limited evidence of genuine equal partnership where power is shared with young people with mental health difficulties throughout all research stages, particularly in data collection and analysis.
Objective
To describe how our qualitative study, exploring young peoples’ perceptions on the feasibility of using technology to detect mental health deterioration, was co-produced using principles of co-production, whilst reflecting on impact, challenges and recommendations.
Methods
Young people with experience of mental health difficulties were appointed and then worked with researchers throughout all research stages. The study was evaluated against the five principles of co-production. Reflections from researchers and young people were collected throughout.
Results
Seven young people formed an initial Young People's Advisory Group (YPAG); three became co-researchers. Reflection was key throughout the process. Sharing power became easier and more evident as trust, confidence and mutual respect grew over time, particularly after a safe space was established. The safe space was crucial for open discussions, and our WhatsApp group enabled continual communication, support and shared decision-making. The resulting co-produced topic guide, coding framework, thematic map, papers and presentations demonstrated significant impact.
Conclusions
To our knowledge, this is the first qualitative mental health study to be co-produced using the principles of co-production. Our rigorous assessment can be utilized as an informative document to help others to produce meaningful co-produced future research. Although co-production takes time, it makes significant impact to the research, researchers and co-researchers. Flexible funding for spontaneous suggestions from co-researchers and more time for interview training is recommended.
Date Issued
2021-05-01
Date Acceptance
2020-05-15
Citation
Health Expectations, 2021, 24 (S1), pp.134-146
ISSN
1369-6513
Publisher
Wiley Open Access
Start Page
134
End Page
146
Journal / Book Title
Health Expectations
Volume
24
Issue
S1
Copyright Statement
© 2020 The Authors Health Expectations published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium,
provided the original work is properly cited.
© 2020 The Authors Health Expectations published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
provided the original work is properly cited.
© 2020 The Authors Health Expectations published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
License URL
Sponsor
National Institute for Health Research
Dr Foster Ltd
Grant Number
n/a
n/a
Subjects
Science & Technology
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
Health Care Sciences & Services
Health Policy & Services
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
co-production
health research
mental health
patient and public involvement
technology
young people
PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT
PATIENT
COPRODUCTION
co-production
health research
mental health
patient and public involvement
technology
young people
1110 Nursing
1117 Public Health and Health Services
1701 Psychology
Public Health
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2020-06-09