Experts-by-experience members from Hull, Manchester, Sheffield, Preston, London, and researchers from the NIHR Mental Health Implementation Network (MHIN) gathered on 21 February 2025, at The Circle in Sheffield to celebrate the vital role of Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) within the MHIN programme.
The MHIN programme aims to drive national collaborations and changes in mental health practice and the involvement of people with lived experience of mental health services is essential to ensuring the programme’s work reflects the needs of mental health service users.
(Photo: Raith Hart, Andrew Grundy and Simon Hackett)
The event opened with a talk from Dr. Simon Hackett, MHIN Programme Lead, who shared his personal and academic insights into the significance of PPI. He highlighted the invaluable contributions of the MHIN Advisory Board in strengthening connections and shaping the programme’s direction. Simon also acknowledged the integral role of the MHIN PPI team— Jason Grant, Lucy Gallagher, and Amy Allard-Dunbar—in championing meaningful involvement across the network
Following Simon’s remarks, the keynote speaker, Dr. Andrew Grundy, Senior Research Fellow, and Lived Experience Research Lead, UCL, took the stage. Andrew walked us through their inspiring journey from patient to public member and through to their current role. Andrew spoke about the invaluable training that they received whilst on the EQUIP study programme, which was written up into a book. Andrew obtained their PhD from the University of Nottingham and built a network of lived experience researchers during their time. Andrew highlighted the importance of supervision, finding your cheerleaders, and building supportive networks. Copies of Andrew’s book, A research handbook for patient and public involvement researchers were given to attendees.
To highlight the impact of Public Patient Involvement (PPI) across the MHIN’s three projects, a series of engaging lightning talks were presented. Donna Franklin, Research Associate at Sheffield University, shared insights from MHIN Project 1, while Luke Ingamells, Alcohol Manager at Change, Grow, Live in Hull and Laura Hermann, NIHR Doctoral Fellow at the University of Hull discussed key contributions from MHIN Project 3. Both talks highlighted how the local experts by experience had impacted their project work
Following the talks, a panel discussion was chaired by Kelly Davies, Programme Manager for MHIN, and Jason Grant, MHIN PPI Lead. Members of MHIN’s PPI Advisory Board shared their personal motivations for involvement, highlighting the essential role of PPI in creating impactful services for patients, families, and communities. Key insights from the panel included:
The programme really wanted to not just hear the voice of lived experience and incorporate these in the research but to do so in a meaningful and impactful way
Jason Grant has raised the PPI profile including the direction of the Advisory Board meetings Jason has become a key factor in shaping how things have developed within the programme
The key element in involvement is that it is part of your principles. The belief that PPI is the right thing to do, the ethical thing to do, and that must be at the forefront of the research. The second element is purpose, whereby PPI is understood as part of the research shared values, goals and ambitions, and that must include a commitment to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion.
The afternoon session was led by Dr. Penelope Mendonça, a pioneering graphic facilitator and cartoonist with over 20 years of experience in engagement and development within the public and voluntary sectors. Throughout the event, Pen visually captured the day's activities, creating two striking wall charts in real time. These dynamic illustrations showcased key discussions and insights, bringing the event to life in a unique and engaging way. Pen was very attentive throughout the day, even asking the audience/participants to approach them and suggest any changes or amendments that needed to be made.
To close the session, Jason Grant, PPI Lead, presented MHIN PPI members with certificates of recognition, celebrating their valuable contributions to the programme. Reflecting on the event, Jason expressed his appreciation:
It has felt like a nice way to acknowledge, recognise, and appreciate the public members who have been involved in the programme. My hope is that the people in that room will cherish that moment and will continue to be involved in research programmes around the country.
(Photo: Runa Uddin receives her certificate of recognition from Jason Grant, Simon Hackett and Kelly Davies.)
Read A research handbook for patient and public involvement researchers