Very useful, but do carefully: Mental health researcher views on establishing a Mental Health Expert Consumer Researcher Group

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Contemporary mental health policy identifies consumers as active participants in all aspects of mental health services from design to evaluation. Consumer researchers should be actively involved in mental health research and contribute to quality service delivery. AIM: To gain a snapshot of mental health researcher views on strategies for increasing research by or with consumers in mental health through the establishment of an Expert Consumer Researcher Group (ECRG). METHODS: Cross-sectional survey of 41 non-consumer mental health researchers from Australia or New Zealand. RESULTS: The introduction of an ECRG was considered an effective strategy for linking consumer and non-con..