Participatory action research: moving beyond the mental health ‘service user’ identity

May 1, 2015

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This paper discusses the process of a participatory action research study that was facilitated by a mental health nurse and involved six people who use statutory mental health services as co-researchers. The process of recruiting and training the service-user researchers is described. The paper also highlights the perspective of the service-user researchers on the process of being involved in the research, as well as the impact that this involvement had on them considering a move beyond the mental illness identity.

Hutchinson, A., & Lovell, A. (2013). Participatory action research: moving beyond the mental health ‘service user’ identity. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 20(7), 641-649. Full Text.