Putting people at the heart of research
In October 2024, I was lucky enough to give a talk at Inspiring the Next Generation, an event for academic health professionals across Leeds. I spoke about how I’ve made sure that young people and their families are at the centre of my research. My project, EmCASH, was even highlighted as a great example of patient-centred research – which made me feel both proud and inspired to keep going!
The idea I shared was simple: research is better when it’s based on real people’s experiences.
Mental health is personal, and young people are the experts in their own lives. By involving them and their families in my research, I’m making sure that the results are useful, easy to understand, and focused on what really matters to them. My young people’s and carers’ advisory groups are like my teammates – their ideas have helped shape everything from the questions I’m asking to how I’ll share my findings.
During my talk, I explained that involving people in research (or PPIE – which stands for Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement) isn’t just a tick-box exercise. It’s about listening to people, giving them a voice, and including their ideas every step of the way. I also shared a few tips for other researchers:
Start early: Get people involved right from the beginning.
Find funding: There are small grants to help you pay for PPIE activities.
Ask for help: Mentors and groups like Generation R are great for advice.
Support your team: Think about what your PPIE members might need.
Stay flexible: Be ready to adapt to what your advisory group needs.
After the talk, I was blown away by how many people reached out for advice, resources, and templates to start their own PPIE journeys. It’s clear that more researchers are realising how important it is to include the people their research is aiming to benefit.
Since then, I’ve chaired “welcome workshops” for both PPIE groups (one for young people, one for parents and carers). These have been a great way to get to know each other and agree on our values and ways of working together.
As EmCASH moves forward, I’m excited to keep working with young people, carers, and healthcare professionals to make a real difference. Together, we’re showing that putting people at the heart of research isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s the smartest way to create lasting change!
