Accessible user influence in the field of mental health: Development of material to support implementation of User Focused Monitoring

User involvement in the field of mental illness is highlighted in government reports as central to the development of services and interventions. In the UserInvolve research programme, we conduct co-produced, interdisciplinary and practice-oriented research.

The research programme is based on a co-production platform between researchers from five universities in Sweden, welfare actors and the National Partnership for Mental Health (NSPH).The programme studies a number of strategies and methods for strengthening influence - including so-called User-focused monitoring (UFM), which is a peer-led method of independently and in a systematic manner evaluating mental health services from a user perspective.As part of the impact project, we plan to develop pedagogical material, on the basis of our research findings, to support the practice of UFM.

It will provide support for organizations and providers to initiate, implement and further develop UFM in their local settings. This will consist of a digital material with the possibility of printable pdf files.

Great focus will be placed on graphic design and visual communication.Through a special focus on involving rural areas in the co-production activities, we intend to ensure that the material produced will strengthen the conditions for UFM as a strategy for user influence and person-centeredness in settings where there is no established user movement and where there is a lack of capacity to include user influence in quality development.All phases of the project are conducted in collaboration between researchers, actors from the user movement who carry out UFM (Verdandi, NSPH, BRiU - Brukarrevisionsbyrån i Uppsala län) and welfare actorsIn the development of the material for UFM, we will test methodology for utilization of research and draw lessons about which actors should be involved and which forms of cooperation should be established for the continued impact of research results.