Abstract

Author(s)

Tessa-May Zirnsak, Lyn English, Chris Maylea, Rosie Elwyn, Melanie Sherrin, Hazel Dalton, Russell Roberts, Judith Drake

Introduction

Research has shown that people diagnosed with mental illness are likely to die at an earlier age than people without a psychiatric diagnosis, highlighting serious health inequity. To address this inequality, Equally Well received funding from the federal government to create a resource to facilitate communication between clinicians and consumers of physical and mental health services.

Method

We used a co-design methodology to conduct the research. The authorship team understand co-design to be partnership with a group of people in the population that is being studied in the design and execution of research. A co-design group was recruited and met online regularly to collaborate on all components of the project. They were also engaged in conducting a literature review to inform the research.

Results & Findings

Results will be determined at the conclusion of the project.

Discussion

Co-design was tricky to establish and fragile to maintain, but the project was overall stronger as a result of researcher attempts to establish co-design. For co-design to work, researchers must be reflective and committed to changing their practice to enable co-design members to make real contributions to research. These contributions are valuable and help to promote efficacy of the research, while also upskilling co-design group members and researchers.