We involve practitioners, service users, and community partners. A key aspect of our research is working with vulnerable people and communities, mental health in ageing populations, coercion and safety, service user involvement and partnership working.
Through research we aim:
- To raise the profile of mental health-related research at UCLan by promoting collaborative work between academics, professionals in health and social care, service users, carers and the wider community
- To increase the quality and breadth of research on mental health at UCLan by developing the capacity and capability of researchers and research partners
- To form a better understanding of the nature of mental health, illness and recovery and the conflicting demands on good mental health and social care. This is achieved through high-quality research, development and consultancy that span a number of themes.
Key aims
The key aims of this research group are:
- To ensure the profile of mental health-related research is raised and that collaborations are formed between multi-disciplinary academic, professionals in health and social care, service users, carers and the wider community.
- To increase the quality and breadth of research on mental health at UCLan by developing the capacity and capability of researchers and our academic, clinical and research partners.
- To form a better understanding of the nature of mental health, illness and recovery and the conflicting demands on good mental health and social care.
- To develop knowledge, explore insights and generate solutions that will improve the provision of mental health services and the evidence-based interventions provided within them.
Research
Mental health researchers make an integral contribution to university-wide interdisciplinary work, notably exemplified within the two Institutes, the Lancashire Research Institute for Global Health and Wellbeing and the Lancashire Research Institute of Citizenship, Society and Change, and other centres of research endeavour such as: the UCLan Criminal Justice Partnership, the Centre for Citizenship and Community.
Within this research theme, we pride ourselves on interdisciplinary perspectives and the involvement of practitioner, service user and community partners.
We especially value patient and public involvement (PPI) in all our research endeavours and the inclusion of people with lived experience of mental health, service use and carer experiences.
Impact
A key area of impact focuses on service users’ and carers’ experiences including the funding of a Community Engagement and Service User and Carer Support project, which attracts international recognition.
We provide advice, support and training for mental health service user researchers.
Our ‘Whittingham Lives’ project and bringing together a community of people to investigate and learn from the historical accounts of mental health care hence having a direct local impact but learning that will have a much wider impact.
Research team
Related articles
- Article
Changing mental health care to improve wellbeing in people with cystic fibrosis and their caregivers
Research by Professor Janice Abbott has helped to change the culture of mental health care and the way care is delivered to people with cystic fibrosis. - Article
The Public Psychiatric Emergency Assessment Tool (PPEAT): Transforming police interactions with people with mental disorders
The Public Psychiatric Emergency Assessment Tool (PPEAT) is the only tool of its kind in the world enabling frontline police officers to rapidly and accurately identify people with mental disorders. - Article
Specialist Aggression Intervention Packages (SAIP): Developing evidence-based procedures for rehabilitation in prisons and other secure settings
Professor Jane L. Ireland and the Forensic Research Group have pioneered the development of research-informed Specialist Aggression Intervention Packages (SAIP) for high-risk populations such as prisoners, secure psychiatric patients and children in secure care.
