Service users

The studies in this section are based directly on the experiences of people living with mental health problems, who may or may not have been diagnosed with a specific mental illness. We have produced a number of reports which summarise our main findings. These can be found by clicking on the relevant links, and either downloading or buying from the Mental Health Shop.

Rethink believes that involving people with mental health problems in research is central to finding out more about the issues we need to address.

Completed Studies

  • Mental Health and Religion (141 kb) [xls]
    YouGov survey results commissioned by Rethink for World Mental Health Day, October 10th 2007
  • Aap Ki Awaaz Project (Your Voice) (216 kb) [pdf] - The research in this report was carried out by a group of community researchers in the West Midlands who were supported by the CSIP/UCLAN  'Community Engagement' Programme. The topic was chosen to supprt the work of a Rethink community development programme seeking to raise awareness of mental health issues and assist mainstream services to better engage with the Pakistani community.
  • Oppressed voices - This research project focused on the mental health needs of South Asian women in West Kent. The Sahayak project has been one of Rethink's leading mental health services for over 10 years. The Oppressed Voices Community Engagement project was an innovative addition to Sahayak's work, responding to the needs expressed by people using the service.
  • Side Effects  – We ran a focus group study to explore service users’ experiences of taking anti-psychotropic medication. In particular we looked at the side effects of medication and how people manage these.
  • Advance Directives Report (125 kb) [doc] - Advance directives or advance agreements are the expression of the wishes of some one who experiences mental illness about the type of care and treatment they will be provided if they become unwell. Rethink has produced a report based on research on the views of users who have had the opportunity to do an advance directive.
  • Future Perfect - Mental health service users set out a vision for the 21st century - This report is the result of a series of focus groups carried out by Rethink with service users and carers. The question discussed was: What might the future look like without psychiatric hospitals?
  • Putting mental health at the heart of european union policy - Rethink and EUFAMI wanted to contribute to the European Union green paper consultation process by gathering the views of people with a mental illness, their families and carers. A survey was available to complete online, and was also disseminated through various networks. The survey results lead to several recommendations.
  • Point of View Survey - This survey, sent out to Rethink members gained 3000 responses, from which the following three reports were written:

Right from the start - Service users and their carers were asked about their experiences of barriers to seeking help from mental health services.

Lost and found - This report focused on people with mental health problems who are particularly isolated from society in general and from the mental health world.  

Just one per cent (73 kb) [pdf]– This research looked at the experience of people with mental health problems using services and how involved they are in their own treatments and care plans. 

  • Dual Diagnosis Executive Summary (155 kb) [pdf] – This piece of research looked at the experience of living with ‘dual diagnosis’ (i.e. severe mental illness and use of substances such as street drugs or alcohol) from the perspective of 11 service users and 13 carers.

  • CUES (Carers and Users Expectation of Services) - This is an outcome tool for use by mental health staff, service users and carers. It was developed over 2 years to reflect the important issues for service users.

Current research

  • Narratives of recovery (Funded by Astra Zeneca and supported by MDF The Bipolar Organisation) -  Recovery is central to the activities of Rethink.The focus of this project will be to collect narrative stories from a diverse group of people with severe mental illness. Particular focus will be on factors enabling 'wellness'. The research will be carried out by people with mental health problems who are trained and supported as service user researchers.
  • Setting research priorities - We have begun a project with 3 other health charities to develop criteria to help voluntary sector agencies make decisions about what research to endorse and support. The project is being led by a working party of service users and carers. This piece of work is funded by The Welcome Trust and co-ordinated by TwoCan Associates.
  • Social Inclusion project - this is a scoping study to explore the feasibility of developing an index of social inclusion.
  • Your Shout - Part of a large project called Rethink Politics. It is a project aimed at encouraging adults with experience of mental health problems to have a greater say in things that matter to them, focussing on their awareness and involvement in the democratic process. A survey was carried out in June this year and a preliminary report with a summary of findings will be available in the Autumn.