Introduction...

 

The NHS National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) has funded a 5-year (2009-2014) programme of research around recovery in adult mental health services, called REFOCUS. This provides an infrastructure to create a new informal and inclusive network to support recovery-focussed research relevant to mental health services. The agreed aims of the network are:

1. To create new robust research around recovery
This will involve conceptual and empirical work, importing critical tools from a range of disciplines (e.g. anthropological, historical, philosophical, sociological) and perspectives. Preliminary topics include conceptual understandings of recovery, methodological approaches, empirical studies, and approaches to changing organisation culture and professional practice. Specific tasks may include collaborations to produce new grant applications, holding events with international speakers, providing a meeting-point for researchers from different scientific areas (e.g. health services research, well-being, social inclusion, identity) to develop collaborative links, or co-supervising PhD students. A particular (but not exclusive) focus will be on developing evidence through randomised controlled trials and systematic reviews about key recovery domains (e.g. hope, empowerment, identity, personal responsibility, meaning, etc.), with the goal of informing clinical guidelines and changing the policy and practice culture.

2. To increase access to existing research around recovery
This may involve the development of a web-based resource of academic studies and internet resources, holding conferences or workshops to disseminate findings, or creating accessible syntheses of research.

At present the network has 150 members, and it first met in April 2009. The level of involvement will be entirely up to each member, with no ongoing commitment. We recognise the central significance of values to a recovery orientation and will aim to develop the activity of this research network on those same values. If you are interested in joining then please contact Kelly Davies (kelly.davies@iop.kcl.ac.uk). Feel free to pass this invitation to any colleague in England who is also involved in or interested in recovery research.