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Lived experience researchers partnering with consumers and carers to improve mental health research: Reflections from an Australian initiative
Author(s) -
Banfield Michelle,
Randall Rebecca,
O'Brien Mearon,
Hope Sophie,
Gulliver Amelia,
Forbes Owen,
Morse Alyssa R.,
Griffiths Kathleen
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
international journal of mental health nursing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.911
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1447-0349
pISSN - 1445-8330
DOI - 10.1111/inm.12482
Subject(s) - mental health , general partnership , lived experience , unit (ring theory) , nursing , public relations , medicine , psychology , medical education , business , political science , psychiatry , mathematics education , finance , psychoanalysis
Consumer and carer involvement in mental health research is a growing and developing field. Whilst there has been policy and in‐principle support for such involvement from governments around the world, lived experience researchers conducting academic research in partnership with other consumers and carers remains uncommon. ACACIA : The Australian Capital Territory Consumer and Carer Mental Health Research Unit is based at The Australian National University and employs academic researchers with lived experience to undertake research directly relevant to the needs of mental health consumers and carers with the aim of influencing policy and practice. In this study, we share our experience of developing and conducting research within ACACIA to provide a model for meaningfully engaging mental health consumers and carers throughout the research process.