At the UKRI Mental Health Platform (MHP), we want people with lived experience from diverse backgrounds to be actively involved in what we do. They share our aim of accelerating research into severe mental illness (SMI) and improving the diagnosis and treatment of those affected.
You can join the PPIE Network by filling out our online form:
The MHP Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) Network is a community of people with lived experience of SMI, associated with the MHP. Members can contribute their expertise to different platform activities to improve the quality of the work and ensure its relevance to those with SMI.
You must have lived experience of SMI from a personal or carers perspective, rather than only a professional one.
You don't need to be involved in the MHP or the Hubs to join the Network. But, you're welcome to join if you're already involved in PPIE as a member of the MHP PPIE Steering Group or at one of our Hubs:
- Brain & Genomics
- Complex Emotions
- DATAMIND
- ImmunoMIND
- Metabolic Psychiatry
- Social Health
You don't have to be based in the UK, but any communications or online meetings will usually take place during GMT working hours. Unfortunately, we're also not able to fund travel costs from outside the UK.
You'll have exclusive access to opportunities and activities at the Mental Health Platform.
The MHP Coordinating Centre will share these via email to all PPIE Network members as the activities arise, with a description of the activity including the predicted time it will take. Activities might include:
- Blog writing
- Participating in review committees for scientific project proposals and interviews
- Organising and/or presenting at an event
- Working on comms outputs
The activity might involve working in small groups or it might be an independent activity. This would be clear when the opportunities were described. Most meetings would be online, but there may be some in-person opportunities.
Throughout the activity, you would be supported by the MHP PPIE Coordinating team and have access to support from other MHP PPIE members.
You'd also receive the quarterly MHP Newsletter, which contains updates on Hub research.
You'll remain a member of the Network unless you request removal from the mailing list.
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First you need to fill out our online form, which will ask a bit about why you’re interested in joining the Network and any relevant experience.
Someone from our PPIE Steering Group will check through your application and you’ll be added to our mailing list. The MHP Coordinating Centre will share opportunities and activities via email to Network members as they arise.
For the first activity you’re involved in, we’ll invite you to a short online chat with an MHP PPIE representative and someone from the MHP Coordinating team. See below ("How do I participate in activities?") for more information.
The MHP Coordinating Centre will share opportunities and activities via email to Network members as they arise. You can express your interest in leading or participating in specific activities by replying to the email sent from the MHP Coordinating team.
If it’s the first activity you’re involved in, we’ll invite you to a short online chat with an MHP PPIE representative and someone from the MHP Coordinating team. You can ask questions, and we can discuss whether you’d be the right fit for the particular role. We would then contact you to confirm whether or not you were selected to participate in the activity.
For subsequent activities, we would only invite you to another online chat under certain circumstances.
Yes, PPIE Network members are remunerated for their time, both for meeting attendance and for relevant meeting preparation.
The amount is agreed in advance for each activity, depending on the meeting time and required preparation time. The MHP follows the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) guidance on reimbursement for members of the public.
The MHP utilises the University of Edinburgh’s system for PPIE payments. Remuneration forms will be circulated following the activity and must be returned to the MHP Coordinating team for processing within three months of the meeting or activity. Please note that accepting payments may affect any state benefits you may be receiving and may also be liable to income tax.
Alternative options for individual payments can include e-vouchers or direct bank transfers. If preferred, other ways of acknowledging contribution may include written acknowledgements, providing references, and providing certificates for participation.