S014: Collaborative MH Research
Tracks
Track 11
| Wednesday, August 26, 2015 |
| 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM |
| Torrens Room |
Speaker
Michelle Banfield
Research Fellow
National Institute for Mental Health Research
Partners in Research: Methods for high quality collaborative mental health research
Abstract
Background
Australia has had a Statement on Consumer and Community Participation in Health and Medical Research (1) for more than a decade. However, progress on the active involvement in the research process of stakeholders other than researchers has been limited. This is in part due to the limited availability of training: for researchers on how to effectively involve non-researchers; and for consumers, carers, service providers and other community members on the principles of rigorous research and how they can contribute.
ACACIA: The ACT Consumer and Carer Mental Health Research Unit was established in 2013 at the Australian National University. Staffed by academic consumer and carer researchers, the initiative is intended to combine the expertise of qualified researchers with those who are experts by virtue of their lived experience. This will ensure that the research is both of high scientific quality and meaningful for consumers and carers.
Workshop plan
A key priority for ACACIA is research training and capacity-building with consumers, carers and within the mental health sector. The objective of this workshop is to provide participants with an understanding of good research design and methods that actively involve consumers, carers, service providers and other stakeholders in the process.
ACACIA hosted a consumer and carer mental health research forum in November 2013 to identify and prioritise topics for research in the ACT. Many suggestions focused on mental health service delivery. Using one of the topics developed at the forum for demonstration, this workshop will guide participants on the design and conduct of a rigorous research project in mental health services. This will focus on methods for collaborative research with consumers and carers. The first half of the workshop will introduce some of the principles of high quality research including the typical stages of a research project and ethical considerations. Participants will then work in small groups to develop a plan for a hypothetical collaborative research project
Participants are encouraged to think about research they would like to conduct or in which they would like to be involved and come prepared for discussion.
Australia has had a Statement on Consumer and Community Participation in Health and Medical Research (1) for more than a decade. However, progress on the active involvement in the research process of stakeholders other than researchers has been limited. This is in part due to the limited availability of training: for researchers on how to effectively involve non-researchers; and for consumers, carers, service providers and other community members on the principles of rigorous research and how they can contribute.
ACACIA: The ACT Consumer and Carer Mental Health Research Unit was established in 2013 at the Australian National University. Staffed by academic consumer and carer researchers, the initiative is intended to combine the expertise of qualified researchers with those who are experts by virtue of their lived experience. This will ensure that the research is both of high scientific quality and meaningful for consumers and carers.
Workshop plan
A key priority for ACACIA is research training and capacity-building with consumers, carers and within the mental health sector. The objective of this workshop is to provide participants with an understanding of good research design and methods that actively involve consumers, carers, service providers and other stakeholders in the process.
ACACIA hosted a consumer and carer mental health research forum in November 2013 to identify and prioritise topics for research in the ACT. Many suggestions focused on mental health service delivery. Using one of the topics developed at the forum for demonstration, this workshop will guide participants on the design and conduct of a rigorous research project in mental health services. This will focus on methods for collaborative research with consumers and carers. The first half of the workshop will introduce some of the principles of high quality research including the typical stages of a research project and ethical considerations. Participants will then work in small groups to develop a plan for a hypothetical collaborative research project
Participants are encouraged to think about research they would like to conduct or in which they would like to be involved and come prepared for discussion.
Biography
Michelle is an academic researcher with personal experience of mental illness. Her research focuses on services and policy for mental health with an emphasis on consumer perspectives. Michelle is also committed to increasing the active involvement of mental health consumers, carers and service providers in the research process.
Bethany has worked in diverse settings, including community mental health, private practice and psychiatric hospitals. She is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow with the National Institute for Mental Health Research. Her research interests are consumer-led research, women’s mental health, and mental illness prevention. She also has lived experience of mental illness.
