‘It’s my medication’ peer-led research goes live!
With a few COVID-19 disruptions along the way it was especially exciting to launch our peer-led research into medication, mental ill-health and homelessness at Manchester’s Art Gallery.
Though there are plenty of valuable insights and recommendations for change emerged from the research, three things stand out most to me:
Kindness and fairness within the complexities of systems, services and society emerged as a key theme – underpinned by a want for ‘being human’ in how viewed, treated and how others portray themselves. It’s clear that navigating medication, mental ill-health and homelessness is complicated and within this there are many transactional type relationships which each individual encounters – some fleeting and some longer term. A key message here is that being transactional isn’t being human and doesn’t create an environment where individuals feel like they are treated as human.
Mental ill health isn’t all about medication. There’s a lot more to improving mental health than the medication journey – what the ideal support or treatment looks like, or vision for the future varies from individual to individual. Whether it’s volunteering, or having access to cooking facilities and healthy food, or having a space which feels like home… it’s important to ask, listen and learn.
Of course then, the ongoing need for co-produced, co-designed, co-created spaces, places, services and systems sings out load and clear. Not only is it ‘being human’ to include individuals with lived experience in decision-making which has either a direct impact on self, or other individuals who may be experiencing similar things, but the insights which emerge make those systems, services, places and spaces much improved.
Let’s hope that this ‘It’s my medication research’ has a similar reach and capacity for change than our MHAG Cause and Consequence peer-led research did.
Get the reports!
Learn more about It’s my medication’ peer-led research with Manchester’s Mental Health Action Group and Shelter (through Inspiring Change Manchester) using creative research methods and download the report here
Details about ‘Cause and Consequence’ peer-led research with Manchester’s Mental Health Action Group and Shelter (through Inspiring Change Manchester) using creative research methods can be found here