Photovoice

Abstract

There is a need in health services research for better processes that result in an evidence base that is informed by and includes voices of those who have experience of the services in an authentic manner. In the UK, public and patient involvement (PPI) has become a common, and in some cases, a mandatory component of much research pertaining to mental health research, often comprising a group that sits parallel to the research and advises on various processes. More recently, PPI has extended beyond a consultancy model to be more collaborative, with language such as participatory research and coproduction permeating the literature. However, there is often a little clarity as to what these terms represent in reality, the impact that they will have on those taking part, and consequently, the body of evidence that we draw up on to inform how mental health services are designed. We need to do more to enable those impacted by poor mental health to contribute to research in a meaningful and fulfilling way. This article was coproduced by the Co-Pact patient and public research group, and shares how photovoice as a research method may advance the current understanding of how patient voices are represented in mental health research.