Inspire service users were at the heart of proceedings this week as stakeholders, academics and experts by experience gathered at Ulster University to launch the latest stage of the CHOICE research project, which focuses on addressing health disparities faced by individuals living with severe mental health conditions.
Over the course of the last year, people who use our services have been central to setting the direction of the REaLISM (Research and Lived Experience in Stigma and Mental health) sub-group. Given the freedom to choose their own area of interest, our members opted to explore the links between access to education and long-term mental illness. Their vital insights have aided the design of the specialised information gathering so crucial to this important piece of work and they were on hand to speak about their involvement.
Professor Sir Michael McBride, Northern Ireland’s Chief Medical Officer, addressed the conference, pointing out that it is “critical to involve the people who know best what it is like to live with mental ill health.”
University College London’s Helen Killaspy then discussed how social exclusion and severe mental illness intersect, as well as the various models designed to foster social inclusion.
The project’s principal investigator, Professor Gerard Leavey, later provided an overview of the CHOICE objectives. Following on from this, his Ulster University colleagues, Dr Kyle Boyd and Dr Rebecca Watterson, introduced the CHOICE online hub and community assets, designed to optimise impact and ease of use.
The REaLISM group’s contributions told their own story. Inspire service user Mandy told attendees about how she valued her participation in the programme. “We have been included in a space we never thought we would have been in before,” she said. “We’re challenging stigma.”
And during a concluding panel discussion, Gavin, who also accesses Inspire’s services, said: “I’ve learned new skills. This helps both the charity and its members – it’s symbiotic. This has given me my voice again and all that anybody wants is a voice.”