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Welcome to the latest newsletter email from us here at Involvement at the Institute. We’re fast approaching the longest day in 2025 and I hope whenever you can and in whatever way, you are making use of these light evenings and brighter skies.
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Our update this month comes to you with surveys galore, some information you might find interesting and a couple of opportunities to participate in research. If you have a few minutes and you’re interested in any of these topics, please consider filling out a survey or two.
We hope you still enjoy receiving our newsletters and staying in touch with us and if you ever want to pause these messages just send an email to IMHinvolve@nottshc.nhs.uk and ask to be taken off the list. No explanations are needed! Like wise if you want to get in touch with us to update on anything you are doing or interested in, then we are here for you.
If you’re doing anything; writing, drawing, showing or presenting, and you’d love to see it featured in our newsletter then let us know. We love to hear how you’re doing and what you are up to and it would be an honour to share your activities far and wide!
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Involvement at the Institute updates:
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Following the successfully delivered training programme for researchers which we continue to run, we are also turning our attention to learning, developing and understanding for public involvement contributors.
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Whether you use the term Expert by Experience, Patient Representative, Carer, Supporter, Champion, Lived Experience Expert, Lived Experience Professional or something else entirely, we want to hear from you.
We have a very short survey to kick off conversations on training and connections for our public. We want to understand a little bit about your thoughts and we would like to invite anyone in our networks to get involved in our conversations as we go along.
If this sounds like something you’d like to contribute towards then please do take a look at our survey here and fill it in. According to the guidance on the survey it should take about 5 – 7 minutes to complete in full.
Please fill in the survey online here.
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National Health and Social care information:
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Here at the Institute of Mental Health we research many topics across our Centres of Research alongside additional ideas, topics, conditions and experiences.
We know that amongst many of the conversations we have, loneliness and depression features and it is sadly, something many of us experience. We wanted to share that the Office for National Statistics has released an insight relating to Mental Health and loneliness and you can read more about it here. The insight relates to data collected during April 2025 and they found that 18% of adults surveyed experience moderate to severe depressive symptoms, with an increase in that figure in younger adults. You can read more about this insight in the link provided and if this is something you are personally familiar with then we understand.
For practical support, understanding and a listening ear we have had some of the following resources recommended to us by our community:
If you have any resources, ideas, suggestions and trusted routes that you use or would like to recommend to others, please do get in touch with us and we can share these across our network.
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Health and social care support for people with dementia - Care Quality Commission
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The Care Quality Commission has published a new report spotlighting the experiences of people living with dementia in England’s health and social care services. Based on direct engagement and data analysis, the findings highlight both the challenges people face and the positive impact of compassionate, well-coordinated care.
If you are interested in this type of report and you’d like to see more then use the link in the advert and take a look at their report.
If dementia is something that is of interest to you, maybe it affects you and your loved ones or you have a friend with a recent diagnosis and you want to learn more about it from our research then do take a look at our Centre for Dementia page on our website. We will continue to share opportunities to get involved with their work when they arise but if you have any questions and you feel our researchers could help then please do get in touch.
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Prioritisation Board - Lay member
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The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) produces useful and usable guidance for the NHS and wider health and care system. The recommendations made by NICE help practitioners and commissioners make healthcare decisions for patients and also considers the wider value in the healthcare guidance it issues. NICE is currently seeking lay board members for their Prioritisation Board.
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is looking for lay members (people who have personal experience of using health or care services) to join its prioritisation board; a key group that decides which health and care topics should be developed into national guidance.
If you’ve used NHS services, supported someone who has, or advocate for patients or carers, this is a chance to ensure real-life experiences help shape decisions that impact the whole health and care system. The closing date for the advert is 15th June 2025 and as NICE is a national organisation the process to become a board member will be an administrative heavy process.
If you are interested in this and would like to know more then please use this link to read their advert NICE committee vacancies for patients, service users, carers and lay people and all details including forms, information, what you can expect in support and financial recompense.
We here at the Institute of Mental Health have no control or input to this process and we cannot assist with applications, forward applications on or offer any advice to this process so please do use the links embedded in this email and get in touch with NICE.
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Opportunities to support research, services and participate in research:
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Survey: Are you, or is someone you support, affected by mental health, neurological, or chronic pain conditions?
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Researchers here at the Institute of Mental Health have launched a survey to understand what people think about "neuromodulation" (non-invasive brain stimulation) treatments for mental health conditions.
The survey aims to help researchers and clinicians who are developing these treatments to design clinical trials and information resources that better meet patient needs and responses will be used to help formulate ideas and perspectives for future research.
The team are particularly interested in the views of people with lived experience of mental health difficulties (whether diagnosed or self-identified), as well as carers for people with mental health difficulties.
You don’t need to have any previous knowledge or experience of neuromodulation. The survey also includes short videos and infographics demonstrating the treatments.
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Opportunity to be a participant in research with the University of Liverpool:
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Researchers at the University of Liverpool are interested in understanding the experience of troubling beliefs that others view as unusual or paranoia (extreme fears about others trying to harm you or are out to get you). These are medically referred to a delusions.
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Specifically, the team are interested in understanding the experience of troubling beliefs in women from minoritised ethnic backgrounds. They want to interview women to hear and understand how they make sense of these experiences, how others respond to them, and how they might be connected to day-to-day life.
To participate in their research, here is some information about how this research will be carried out.
Location: In-person or online via Zoom or Microsoft Teams
Task: Participation involves a 1-1.5 hour interview about experiences.
Person specification:
- UK-based
- Aged 40-65
- Self-identify as a racially/ethically minoritised woman with lived experience of the above troubling beliefs
- Self-report as being able to speak and understand English.
Payment: Participants will be compensated for their time in the interview. If there is a preference for an in-person interview in Liverpool, travel will be compensated at a flat rate.
If you are interested in this research and you meet the person specification listed in this advert, please contact Dr Maria Haarmans (Trainee Clinical Psychologist) by email: M.Haarmans@liverpool.ac.uk or by phone: 07444231913.
Deadline to participate: End of September 2025
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If you are, or anyone you care for is, a receiving care from Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, the Live Team here at Notts Healthcare have launched their free gardening packs. With thanks to funding from The National Lottery Community Fund, the packs will be available from 27 May. If you would like to request a gardening pack for someone you are working with, please visit the Trust’s Green Hub website for more information, alternatively complete this short form to arrange to collect a gardening pack from one of the Trust sites.
Wishing you all slightly longer, brighter (and dryer) days ahead - until the next newsletter!
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