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Embedding Lived Experience

People with lived experience of mental health are at the heart of MHDI. Their expertise shapes what we do, and how we do it.

See how we work with people
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1. Workshops

People with lived experience have taken part in our workshops. They’ve shared their expertise and recommendations, and continue to do so, helping set the direction of our work.

Explore workshops

3. Mapping lived experience groups

We’ve mapped lived experience groups across the UK. This helps us reach the right people, include more voices and spot who is missing.

5. Engaging young people through Youth Connection and WISDOM

We’re working with Youth Connection, one of the UK’s biggest young people’s advisory groups, run by GM.Digital, a mental health research partnership between the University of Manchester and Greater Manchester Mental Health Foundation Trust. They’ve helped shape our priorities and pointed out where knowledge is missing. Through the NIHR platform WISDOM, we’re also reaching more young people, carers, schools and the education sector.

People who have personal experience of mental health challenges, either their own or as a carer, family member or friend. We work with them because they know what matters and what works in real life.

4. Our International Advisory Board

We’re delighted that Mary Patel from the Carers Trust and Alex Kenny, Senior Public Involvement In Research Officer for the McPin Foundation are members of our International Advisory Board.

Meet the Board

2. VoiceIn

We’ve developed a strategy with VoiceIn, a mobile app that makes it easier for people to get involved in health research. It will help us invite members of the public to contribute.

Visit VoiceIn

What does "lived experience' mean?

Five ways you are helping to shape MHDI.

Here’s how people with lived experience of mental health are shaping our work so far.

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