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Welcome to the latest newsletter
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Thank you for continuing to glance over our newsletters, I really appreciate being in touch with you. Whilst itâs a bit more formal than meeting one to one and face to face, I do hope you continue to get something out of these messages, and you are welcome to get in touch with me directly. Itâs always a pleasure to hear from you.
I think there is no longer any escaping it. Weâre here in December â some of us (ahem, me) might be hiding from the truth that the Christmas shopping wonât do itself and some of us (you, definitely not me) might have been prepared, ready eager and waiting since September.
Whether youâre a December Darling or someone who prefers to hibernate until the sun comes back to us, I really hope youâre making time to add a bit of joy to life and take care of yourself.
But for now, hereâs what we have got for you news and updates wise in DecemberâŚ
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We are all looking forward to welcoming anyone attending our Christmas Event on Monday 15th December 2025. The event will be at the Institute of Mental Health on the ground floor and everyone is welcome.
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The event will begin at 12 midday in the IMH main reception area with a Christmas welcome from our Director, Professor Martin Orrell.
This will be followed by a packed agenda of live music, Christmas Bake-Off judging, a quiz, some Christmas poetry readings and market stalls to buy a few Christmas bits if you wish!
If you would like to come along please do email IMH@nottshc.nhs.uk to let us know that you will be attending so we can make sure youâre included. We really do look forward to seeing anyone who would like to join us on this special occasion.
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[click the poster to view a PDF version]
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đ You are also welcome to bring a chocolate prize for the tombola if you wish (no expectation from us though, your presence is enough). All money raised from the chocolate tombola will go towards buying selection boxes for children in hospital over Christmas.
đ Catering will be by way of a fuddle (and of course the baked goods once judging is over). Again, you are very welcome to bring something along to add to the table but please donât worry if you donât have anything. Youâre welcome to join and eat and celebrate with us as our guest!
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A new initiative, the Institute of Mental Health Peer Research Academy, has been commissioned by Wellcome (formerly The Wellcome Trust) to support the development of mental health peer research as an inclusive, influential and health-affirming role.
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The Academy opened on 1st September 2025 and will operate initially until the end of 2027.
From March 2026, it will offer support for mental health researchers with lived or living experience, including grants, training, and networking community-building opportunities. It will also investigate how to create healthy, sustainable environments for peer researchers and offer support for people who employ, or plan to employ, researchers with lived experience. The Academy website will launch in February 2026. In the meantime, you can find more information via the news article on the Institute website
You can also email the Academy with any questions you might have.
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Opportunities to be involved or participate in research:
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Dr Eleni Frisiri is currently advertising for people to join her research as part of a Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) Advisory Group.
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Eleni is currently undertaking a PhD with the Midlands Mental Health and Neurosciences Doctoral Training Programme and is beginning her work by assembling a PPI group to help advise, as her research progresses.
If you are:
- 25 years old or younger
- Have had difficulties in managing emotions (with or without any healthcare involvement or diagnosis), or
- You are a parent or carer of a young person as described above
Then Eleni would love to hear from you, tell you more about her work and invite you to join her new PPI group. The details are on the poster or you can view the online information sheet.
You can email Eleni directly to ask questions or tell her youâre interested.
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[click the poster to view a PDF version]
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Experiences of re-accessing secondary mental health services following discharge from Early Intervention in Psychosis services (EIP).
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A new study from the University of East Anglia is exploring the experiences of people who have had psychosis, completed Early Intervention in Psychosis (EIP) services, and later tried to re-access support. The research aims to understand the barriers people face, and what helps, when seeking help after relapse.
If youâre aged 18â65, live in the UK, and have previously received at least two years of EIP support, you may be eligible to take part in a 90-minute interview with Claire, a trainee clinical psychologist. Participants will receive a ÂŁ10 Amazon voucher as thanks for their time.
To find out more and to read the Patient Information Sheet or sign up to participate in this study, then please click this link.
This piece of research is not connected with the Institute of Mental Health however we thought it might be of interest to our community so we are sharing it with you.
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Wider research and health and social care updates:
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The Shared Commitment to Public Involvement in health and social care research.
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The Shared Commitment to Public Involvement (in health and social care research) is a commitment made across a number of organisations, groups and Institutions and you can find out a bit more about their Commitment statement here.
As part of their ongoing committed approach to involving public contributions in research, the HRA led an exercise with public contributors and public involvement leads. This exercise brought together people who are part of their Shared Commitment partnership group to review the NIHR UK Public Involvement Standards.
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[click the image to view a larger version]
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They considered these questions:
- What are peopleâs experiences of the standards use, how do they land, is the guidance good enough, are there changes that people have heard suggested?
- How do we keep the standards current (making sure groups donât start re-inventing the wheel)?
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Feedback from these discussions will be reviewed by the Oversight Group but it doesnât end there. The Oversight Group would still like to hear from people who were not part of these conversations so far. If you are a contributor to research, a facilitator of PPI and you have any examples or case studies where you have used the standards then please do get in touch with the reviewers to share your feedback public.involvement@hra.nhs.uk
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Parent Carer Research Network â The Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre has launched a Parent Carer Research Network. |
If you are a parent or carer and interested in getting involved in research relating to your young people or you as a parent or carer, you can sign up to join the network and find out more about opportunities to share your experiences and opinions into research spaces.
This network is not connected or affiliated with the IMH in any way however I know many people who receive our communications are parents, carers and / or younger people so we wanted to make sure you saw this opportunity. If you want to jump straight in and join the network you can follow this link to sign up Parent Carer Research Network Registration Form or you can read a bit more about this first by heading to their main page on the website here.
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If youâre thinking that 2026 might be the year where you do something youâve always wanted to do or you are thinking of a fresh start and trying something new, why donât you take a look at some of these events, activities and groups and see if any of these spark some interest.
Whether these are your thing, or they just inspire you to explore something else then go on, give it a go. You never know what might happen!
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[click the image to view a larger version]
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Diversify Education CIC are a Nottingham based Community Interest Company who do some fantastic, energetic and community centred activities. From their Dads and Lads football beginnings they now run StrongHer football for the women and girls and offer a warm welcome to everyone visiting them over in Beechdale.
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Inspire - Culture, Learning, Libraries are already planning their programme of learning, activities and hobbies for 2026 and offer a friendly face, a warm chat and all the books, videos and computers you can ever need across their Nottinghamshire libraries.
Our colleagues within the Nottinghamshire Involvement Experience and Volunteering team continue to find new and exciting ways of getting volunteers involved in the Trust. From gardening to befriending and therapy dog visits, if youâre thinking of volunteering in 2026 please do get in touch with the team.
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We wish you all a very merry Christmas period, a wonderful end to the calendar year and a brilliant start (but remember itâs a marathon not a sprint) to 2026.
As always if there is anything youâd like to share with us at the Institute, for the newsletter or for me and my colleagues to know about then please do get in touch. It really does make my day when I get responses from these newsletters!
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