A new survey has launched across Kent, Surrey and Sussex to find out what research into secondary mental health care should focus on. People with personal experience, families, carers and professionals are being asked to share the questions that matter most to them.
The survey has been launched to help set future research priorities by the Mental Health Innovation and Implementation theme at the National Institute for Health and Care Research Applied Research Collaboration (NIHR) Kent, Surrey and Sussex (ARC KSS), working with the James Lind Alliance Priority Setting Partnership, which brings patients, carers and professionals together to agree the questions research should answer.
The survey focuses on secondary mental health care: specialist support for people with more complex or long-term mental health needs that cannot usually be met by a general practitioner or primary care service alone. This can include community mental health teams, crisis services, outpatient clinics and hospital care. The aim is to make sure future research addresses the questions that matter most to people who use and work with these services.
Professor Kathy Greenwood, ARC KSS Mental Health Innovation and Implementation Theme Lead, said: “We want future research to focus on the questions that matter most to people who use and work with secondary mental health services. By sharing your views, you can help shape research that could improve care and support for people across our region.
"People aged 16 to 35 with experience of these mental health difficulties can take part, along with their families, friends and carers, and people who work in or alongside specialist mental health services."
Who can take part?
🧑 People aged 16 to 35 who have experienced severe, complex and long-term issues affecting mental health. You can take part whether you received support, were referred to a service or could not access support.
🤝 Family members, friends, carers or others who support someone has experienced severe, complex, long-term issues affecting mental health.
👩 People who work in secondary mental health services, refer people to these services or work alongside them. This includes staff working in NHS services, the voluntary and community sector, local authority services, education, police, and housing.
If this includes you, complete the survey and share what you think research should explore. Organisations can also help by sharing it with people who may want to take part.
The team especially wants to hear from people whose experiences and perspectives are less often heard, including people from minoritised ethnic communities, LGBTQ+ communities, people with disabilities, people experiencing financial hardship, and people from other under-represented groups.
Please share the survey with relevant services, charities, community groups, support networks and professional organisations. The Mental Health team would be happy to present the partnership and survey at any relevant meetings or events, so please let us know about any opportunities.
Take part and help spread the word
· Help share the survey: Contact the
If you need help completing the survey, would like it in another format, such as a paper copy or Word document, or have any other enquiries, email the
Every response and every share will help make sure future research focuses on what matters to people across Kent, Surrey and Sussex.
About the partnership
This is a James Lind Alliance Priority Setting Partnership. The James Lind Alliance brings patients, carers and professionals together to agree which questions research should answer.
The partnership is led by the Mental Health Innovation and Implementation theme at the National Institute for Health and Care Research Applied Research Collaboration Kent, Surrey and Sussex. It includes people with personal experience, families, carers, health and care staff, researchers and other partners.
To learn more about the Applied Research Collaboration Kent, Surrey and Sussex secondary mental health care Priority Setting Partnership, watch the Research Week video here.
