New Guide

Involving users and carers in mental health services is something that service providers are increasingly expected to do. In order to set up successful user and carer involvement projects, there are a number of stages to consider. These include deciding on the main aim of the project, as well as identifying potential hindrances and thinking of ways these can be overcome. It is important to evaluate projects, so that user and carer involvement can be made effective. Researchers at the University of Leeds have produced a guidebook for service providers that covers the stages involved in developing user and carer involvement projects. This guidebook can be downloaded from http://www.leeds.ac.uk/medicine/divisions/psychiatry/research/guidebook.htm. Alternatively, print copies can be ordered by contacting the authors at the Academic Unit of Psychiatry, University of Leeds, 15 Hyde Terrace, Leeds LS2 9LT (Simpson, E. L., House, A. O. & Barham, M. (2002) A Guide to Involving users, Exusers and Carers in Mental Health Service Planning, Delivery and Research: A Health Technology Approach. Leeds, University of Leeds, Academic Unit of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences).