There is quite a lot of research into mental health and related topics being done by survivors and service users themselves.
The project below has been going since 2000 and is perhaps one of the more well known locally:
Bristol Mind UFM
User Focused Monitoring Project
Bristol Mind
P.O. Box 1174
Bristol BS99 2PQ
Telephone 0117 980 0370
The first UFM project looked at people's experiences of hospital and the report is available to download There is also an ongoing group, which is working with the Health Authority to ensure that the recommendations from the report are implemented. Survivors/service users are currently researching crisis prevention, crisis care needs and services.
The aim of this initiative is to build up a database of users and survivors who can then be connected up with research projects actively engaging users. This can be done by geographical area or by research topic.
People have already responded from across the UK, and we are now aware of a wealth of individual experience and of a wide range of user-led and user-controlled research projects. Whilst some people have been involved in mental health research for several years, or have experience of other types of research, other individuals have no direct experience of research but are really keen to get involved.
The team is currently in the process of exploring funding options for developing this rich resource - your knowledge and experience.
If you would like further information about this initiative, please contact:
Strategies for Living Team
Mental Health Foundation
7th Floor, 83 Victoria Street
London SW1H 0HW
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7802 0335
Fax: +44 (0) 20 7802 0301
Email: strategy@mhf.org.uk
There are also some interesting papers and newsletters on this site