Four ideas for meaningful inclusion of consumers in mental health research

The term “nothing about us without us” is being used to advocate for people with lived mental health experiences to be included in activities (such as policy and research) that affect them. It refers to research being carried out ‘with’ or ‘by’ not ‘to’, ‘about’ or ‘for’ them (National Institute for Health and Care Research [NIHR], 2021). These terms are used beyond the disability sector by marginalised groups, advocates and within healthcare, including mental healthcare (Jackson & Moorley, 2022). In mental health nursing for example, “experts by experience” refers to the involvement of people with lived experience in academic mental health education. Mental health education involving people with lived experience as experts has been shown to enhance the development of empathy and critical thinking skills in students while supporting the rights of service users to be involved in all aspects of mental health-related activity including education, research, and policy reform (Happell et al., 2022).