Service user engagement- a co-created interview schedule exploring mental health recovery in young adults.

Abstract AimTo co-create of an interview schedule exploring mental health recovery in collaboration with young adult service users.BackgroundService user involvement in research has been increasingly recognised as providing a vital authentic insight into mental health recovery. Engagement and collaboration with service users have facilitated the exploration of inaccessible or under-investigated aspects of the lived experience of mental health recovery, not only directing the trajectory of research, but making it relevant to their own contextual experience. DesignA qualitative content analysis framework was employed in the co-creation of a semi-structured interview schedule through an engagement process with service users.MethodsTwo separate engagement groups took place at the premises of the service user organisations, between January and February 2014. Miles and Huberman’s analysis framework was chosen for this phase as it enabled the visual presentation of factors, concepts or variables and the established relationship between them.ResultsThe lived experience of mental ill health in young adulthood and how this was understood by others was a particularly relevant theme for participants. Further themes were identified between the impact of painful experiences at this developmental life stage leading to a deeper understanding of others through finding meaning in their own mental health recovery journey.ConclusionOur findings identified that suffering painful experiences is an integral aspect in the process of mental health recovery. This understanding has particular relevance to mental health nursing practice, ensuring the care delivered is cognisant of the suffering or painful experiences that young adults are encountering.KeywordsCollaborative, group interactions, mental health and illness, nursing, recovery, suffering, young adults.