How to Get Involved

Research is a powerful thing. It is about progress. It is about discovery. It is about improvements. It is about working together across spaces, people and platforms.

Oxford Health Clinical Research Facility (OH CRF) is a dedicated centre for improving mental and cognitive health treatments through clinical research and is the only National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) supported CRF dedicated to mental health. 

At the core of OH CRF’s research is patient and public involvement. Without people, mental health research cannot take place, whether they are participants in a study/trial or whether they are helping to shape research itself.

Patient involvement is about clinicians, researchers, patients and the public working together with respect and equity at heart.

I am fortunate that I am a part of this work. I help to advise and guide various aspects of the research process, bringing lived experience and insight. Whether through the Engage group or with researchers directly, research can be both improved and enhanced by patient involvement.

It’s not just about being asked for comment after something has already happened. It is about discussions, staff bringing ideas and questions to the group and asking for real thoughts, real experiences. Suggestions are invited, but more than that, researchers are eager for them. They want their work to be shaped in tangible and beneficial ways through consultation.

Engage group meetings have busy agendas with many topics to discuss. Researchers want to present their proposals or provide updates on where they have progressed. OH CRF staff often ask for opinions about the facilities and how they can be enhanced to improve participant experience.

We are regularly invited to review information or documentation, and our advice is considered.

I’ve been lucky to have been part of a study walk through, providing input on a study concept. I had also created a video to be used at a conference to share information on the work of the group, which was a chance to showcase how OH CRF actively apply public engagement in their work. A recent focus group centred on the disproportionate impact of certain mental health diagnoses on an increased likelihood of developing diabetes.

Helping with research is valuable. I’d advocate for anyone to explore opportunities to get involved. If you wish to make a difference and impact research and its outcomes in positive and grounded ways, then consider becoming part of Engage.

I first heard about the Engage group through a forum I attend called ‘Our Voice’. The forum is for Experts by Experience with Oxford Health. I thought it sounded interesting and a new way to use my experience to inform research. So, I came to a meeting and enjoyed it so much I stayed for almost 2 years now! I support by lending my voice to different projects and to supporting the CRF in their work. I give ideas to various projects based on my experiences and bring a live experience viewpoint to the meetings.

I am always keen to use my lived experience to further services and research. I love to use what could often be negative experiences for something positive and good. I particularly like to support research further so that we can all find better ways of helping people with their mental health. I enjoy hearing the different work of the CRF as it is very engaging and interesting.

I would encourage anyone wanting to join the Engage group to go for it! It is very interesting, your voice is needed and important, there is always something new to learn. It has been a great experience, and I would highly recommend it.

I recently supported a research project at the CRF. They wanted some help with a study they are doing, looking at using different anti-psychotic medications. They specifically wanted someone to help to check it would run well and made sense for the participants and was tailored to their needs.  I met with the researchers, and we went through all the research questionnaires together and how the research will work for participants. I was able to give some advice about the running of the project for those taking part and to draw on my own experiences of mental health to ensure the project worked well.

There are also ad-hoc PPI opportunities, for example reviewing information sheets, supporting on staff interview panels, and attending mock research visits to share your perspective before research participants attend these visits.