Involving children and young people in understanding mental health research: Research Ready Schools.

Abstract

Background: The Child Oriented Mental Health Innovation Collaborative (COMIC) aim to actively involve children and young people (CYP) in co-produced research from idea to dissemination. But to do this, CYP must first understand what it is they are being asking to be involved in, moreover how they can influence current research topics via their lived experience.

Aims: The Research Ready Schools (RRS) programme, is an initiative to that aims to teach the next generation about mental health research, and how to care for their mental health and wellbeing Researchers share their expertise in research via fun, interactive lessons, introducing mental wellbeing practices to CYP to champion preventative measures in mental health problems.

Methods: Through this programme, pupils learn not only how to care for their and others mental health, they learn to identify problems that they or others might be experiencing and create solutions through research projects. This is accomplished via covering 6 topics over 6 weeks: Introduction to research and mental health What is research? Mental health and wellbeing Co-production and PPI (Patient and Public Involvement) Research: start to finish Your research Ultimately, each class is invited to create a research project that identifies key problems in CYP mental health that they or their peers have experienced.

Results: CYP learn how to identify problems and work towards a solution, the COMIC research team have a unique understanding of what CYP believe to be paramount problems in youth mental health. Posters produced by the children have been presented and won a prize at an NHS Research Fourm.

Conclusion: The RRS has led to a community that wishes to identify and prevent mental health problems before they become an issue.