We are a group of 16-25 year olds with lived experience of using mental health services, or caring for someone who has used these services. We meet every three months and invite researchers or research teams who would like our advice and support to come and discuss their projects.
Founded in January 2014, by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Clinical Research Network: Mental Health. Currently, we are hosted and funded by the Service User Research Enterprise (SURE) and NIHR Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and King’s College London. We were established in light of increasing awareness of the importance of service user involvement in research. Our primary goals include:
- Act as a point of contact for researchers seeking Patient and Carer Involvement and Engagement (PCIE) on studies relating to young people.
- Raise the profile of research into young people’s mental health.
- Promote the young service user/carer perspective in mental health research.
- Identify and share good practice in service user and carer involvement
- Collaborate with the wider NIHR family and charities on specific projects.
“Being part of the Young Person’s Mental Health Advisory Group has definitely made me more aware of different mental health issues and how these can be dealt with. But it’s more than that, I feel like it’s enabled me to develop personally and I’m much more confident now.”
“I’ve learned of the complexities surrounding research methodology and been involved with the early stages of some exciting new research proposals.”
“The group has opened my eyes to the opportunities out there to get involved in research. Mental health is a part of my life, and it is reassuring to know that there are places that allow me to use my experiences to help others.”
Join the Young Person's Mental Health Advisory Group
If you are interested in joining the group and meet the criteria below, then please complete our application form and we’ll be in touch as soon as we can.
Criteria:
- Aged 16-25
- Resident in the UK
- Have personal experience of using mental health services, and/or caring for somebody who has used these services
- Able to attend a four-hour meeting every three months either online or in Central London
People
Research Assistant
Research Assistant
Research Assistant
Research Fellow
Information for Researchers
How researchers can access our expertise
We invite anybody conducting research related to young people’s mental health who would like advice and support on their proposal to attend one of our meetings. For more information about eligibility to present at one of our meetings and how to apply, please refer to our Flowchart and Guidelines for Researchers.
If you would like to come and present at one of our meetings, please specify when contacting us which of the dates below you would be interested in attending:
- Saturday 31st August 2024 (online)
- Saturday 30th November 2024 (in person)
The group are familiar with research methodology, common mental health diagnoses and treatment approaches, and have provided feedback on a range of projects, including:
- A study of the prevalence of mental health difficulties in young people – Department of Health
- Predicting clinical outcomes using wearables – Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London
- Developing a new questionnaire for depression in young people – University of Reading
- Promoting physical activity among young people with mental health difficulties – University College London
- Developing a priority setting survey for digital technology in mental health research – NIHR MindTech
- Exploring the role of life satisfaction in family and peer relationships – Royal Holloway, University of London
- Setting up a hospital-based mental health drop-in service – Great Ormond Street Hospital
Researcher Feedback:
“The group was very proactive with many intelligent and insightful questions and helpful comments. The feedback exceeded our expectations. It was very helpful to get the insights from young users”.
“Discussing the research with the group was extremely valuable. The group provided insights into experiences of the study procedures, and practical suggestions for making these more accessible.”
“The group was very engaged and gave great feedback. Overall, the feedback really helped us shape our grant proposal”.
People
Research Assistant
Research Assistant
Research Assistant
Research Fellow
Information for Researchers
How researchers can access our expertise
We invite anybody conducting research related to young people’s mental health who would like advice and support on their proposal to attend one of our meetings. For more information about eligibility to present at one of our meetings and how to apply, please refer to our Flowchart and Guidelines for Researchers.
If you would like to come and present at one of our meetings, please specify when contacting us which of the dates below you would be interested in attending:
- Saturday 31st August 2024 (online)
- Saturday 30th November 2024 (in person)
The group are familiar with research methodology, common mental health diagnoses and treatment approaches, and have provided feedback on a range of projects, including:
- A study of the prevalence of mental health difficulties in young people – Department of Health
- Predicting clinical outcomes using wearables – Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London
- Developing a new questionnaire for depression in young people – University of Reading
- Promoting physical activity among young people with mental health difficulties – University College London
- Developing a priority setting survey for digital technology in mental health research – NIHR MindTech
- Exploring the role of life satisfaction in family and peer relationships – Royal Holloway, University of London
- Setting up a hospital-based mental health drop-in service – Great Ormond Street Hospital
Researcher Feedback:
“The group was very proactive with many intelligent and insightful questions and helpful comments. The feedback exceeded our expectations. It was very helpful to get the insights from young users”.
“Discussing the research with the group was extremely valuable. The group provided insights into experiences of the study procedures, and practical suggestions for making these more accessible.”
“The group was very engaged and gave great feedback. Overall, the feedback really helped us shape our grant proposal”.
Our Partners
NIHR Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre
Group lead
Head of School of Mental Health & Psychological Sciences
Contact us
If you have any questions about joining the group as a new member, or coming to present as a researcher, please email us at