The McPin Foundation

Tune in to the latest episode of the On the ARC podcast - Carving a New Path: Lived Experience In Research.

Cat Morgan interviews McPin's Tanya Mackay, about the power of lived experience involvement in research and her career.

Apple: https://ow.ly/WGYB50YlMGb

Spotify https://ow.ly/GTh650YlMGa

1 in 5 young people has a common mental health condition – yet support still too often comes only at crisis point.
The #FutureMinds roadmap sets out the changes needed to shift the system towards prevention and early intervention and transform children and young people’s mental health
bit.ly/49HOq6S

Great to be part of day 2 of the #AMHDMshowcase. Sharing work from the Agency in practice project. Learn more about the project here mcpin.org/project/agen...

@mcpinypnetwork.bsky.social

#thisismyplace - As part of Children's Mental Health week

Three people standing within a square cardboard frame

Yesterday we gathered views from young people partners and researchers at #AMHDMshowcase. Sharing what they would like to see on a new lived experiences collaborative resources platform, funded by UKRI and Wellcome. Great work team!

#thisismyplace - As part of Children's Mental Health week

Six people seated for panel discussion on stage

As part of #AMHDMshowcase today we heard from young person advisory group members in a panel discussion on involvement of young people in research – impacts and lessons learned. This session was chaired by McPin’s research director @vanessapinfold.bsky.social

@mcpinypnetwork.bsky.social

Ellen talked about being a sprout - bringing youth voice and expertise in key ways:
-Co designing a Questionnaire and feelings sort task
-Presented tool to professionals in a webinar
-Co-creating animations
-Our lived experience was genuinely listed to.

View from audience, slide on responsible research and innovation

It was great to see the digital youth team to kick off the #AMHDMshowcase today. Chris Hollis, Ellen Townsend and the sprouting mind group of young people explored linking responsible research innovation and youth involvement. #livedexperience

Opportunities grid showing applicant criteria

We've updated some information on our current opportunities, this graphic is a guide, please see please see webpages for full details.

Roundup of some of our latest involvement opportunities, deadlines in Jan.

National Clinical Audit of Psychosis (NCAP)
https://ow.ly/vXsu50Y1Nus

CIRCuiTS
https://ow.ly/hxZi50Y1Nuv

The Successful Treatment of Paranoia (STOP) study
https://ow.ly/puPx50Y1Nut

Careloop
https://ow.ly/4fjw50Y1Nuw

Careloop logo and digital questionnaire

Help support Careloop, a digital relapse prevention tool for people with psychosis. New involvement opportunity for adults with lived experience of psychosis or schizophrenia. See full applicant requirements and apply here. Deadline 30th January.

https://ow.ly/bXP850XTXBw

Help improve psychosis services!

We're looking for people with experience of Early Intervention in Psychosis services - or have supported a close friend/family member with them - to join our Service User & Carer Reference Group.

Find out more & apply here by 29 Jan 5pm 👉 tinyurl.com/5h3hcjfx

Involvement opportunity with project STOP logo

Help support and develop a smartphone app designed to treat paranoia.

Eligible applicants are UK based adult with lived experience of paranoia, psychosis or schizophrenia. You may or may not have a mental health diagnosis.

https://ow.ly/kE4P50XTXyN

Apply button, Circuits logo, woman standing holding tablet

Help support the development of an artificial intelligence chatbot as part of the CIRCuiTS programme. For ages 16 to 35 and have lived experience of schizophrenia spectrum, bipolar or depression with a diagnosis. See full requirements and apply here. Deadline 30th January.

https://ow.ly/i7t250XTVMz

Wishing you a happy holidays. Just a quick update from us, our office will be closed from Thursday 25th December, reopening on Friday 2nd January.

Our recent B.Life zine wanted to co-produce & co-deliver a project focused on music & mental health for young Black people – so of course we wanted to get some young Black people involved!

The YPAG (Young People’s Advisory Group) was made up of young people living in/connected to London.

Are you interested in working on research focused on bipolar that champions lived experience?

Job vacancy alert 📣

Do you have experience of research methods and facilitating involvement in research?

If so, end 2025 on a high and apply for our part-time peer researcher role!

Find out more & apply here - deadline Tuesday 6th January 2026 at 9am 👉 mcpin.org/about-mcpin/...

The first link takes you to YouTube where you can watch the animation

We joined with Woven Ink to set a poem, Ode to Peer Research in motion. The visuals are entirely handmade and lend a human, tactile quality. https://ow.ly/Bx2r50XJLPy

You can also read our Peer Research at McPin resource https://mcpin.org/peer-research-at-mcpin-reflections-learnings-over-10-years/

Today’s resource spotlight is 10 for 10: Using lived experience in the workplace. With tips about disclosure, such as deciding to share information about your lived experience or what to consider when sharing in the workplace.

Check out all our 10 for 10 resources https://ow.ly/VAqF50XIscy

“The visuals are entirely handmade, they really look handmade, which gives a more human feel and matches the aesthetic of the poem, I think.” Isolde Godfrey from Woven Ink on her process behind the Ode to Peer Research poem, that accompanies our new resource.

Blog : https://ow.ly/6xr050XHnBt

YouTube video by The McPin Foundation Ode To Peer Research

Through poetry and hand-crafted animation, we tell the story of lived experience in research at McPin. When researchers work on topics that personally resonate, we call it peer research.

Watch full the animation on YouTube
youtu.be/nAfThPdeL0c

Animation credit: Woven Ink

#PeerResearch

What does peer research look like at McPin? Our news piece explains and links to our new peer research resource. Read reflections and insights of embedding lived experience in peer research.

https://ow.ly/RU3e50XGcmo

Check out our full collection

https://ow.ly/1qoy50XGcmp

#PeerResearch

We have something exciting to share with you soon, bringing together Peer research, poetry and stop motion animation. Watch this space #Mcpin10for10

UPDATE:

Deadline extension: Please apply by 2nd January by noon, extended from 12th December.

We are expanding the list of eligible locations applicants can be based. (prior requirement restricted to Sussex:

Manchester
Edinburgh
Glasgow
Sussex (Brighton)
London
Cardiff
Avon and Wiltshire

The new Community Mental Health report covers neighbourhood mental health centres & a call to guarantee mental health service funding will continue to increase.

It's a good summary & shows expert by experience voices were heard - but will anything change?

Read our take here 👉 tinyurl.com/2r2kd26z

Are you interested in how lived experience involvement can be integral to shaping multi-year studies? Be sure to check out this NEON (Narrative Experiences Online) blog.
👉 tinyurl.com/synbystz

To those considering psychology or mental health work, you are needed, valued, and can transform systems. Your story matters. Your voice matters.

Consider this: after 3 years' hard work, you’ve finished uni. Excitement overflows then uncertainty hits. What next? Well, recent graduate & LEAP member Adriana sees you.

In her blog she shares her advice for moving from psych grad to mental health advocate.

Read it here! 👉 tinyurl.com/28pt69hs

New involvement opportunity. We are looking for a Sussex based adult with lived experience of psychosis and some previous experience supporting patient and public involvement to join an ongoing study.

For more info and how to apply 👇:
mcpin.org/research-opp...

Please apply before 12th Dec noon.

loud speaker on left

Co-researcher opportunity

Help bridge divides and improve our understanding of gender gap in mental health among teenagers. If you are 16-18 years old and live in London can apply to work with us.

Apply: qualtrics.kcl.ac.uk/jfe/form/SV_...

More info on study: www.bridging-divides.org

#research

Anyone having conversations with young people about sensitive topics like mental health and identity should feel confident they can effectively support someone if that conversation were to cause an emotional reaction.

The @mcpinypnetwork.bsky.social team recently took part in a youth mental health first aid (MHFA) course with @mhfaengland.bsky.social.

Here’s why we think everyone working in youth involvement should complete it!

Read the blog here 👉 tinyurl.com/bdze2jfy