Sweeney, A., Beresford, P., Faulkner, A., Nettle, M., Rose, D. (Eds.). 200pp. Ross-on-Wye: PPCS Books (2009).
Pb ISBN: 978 1 906254 14 8
There has been a major development in health and social science research: it is now being carried out by people who had previously only been seen as its subjects. At the forefront are people with experience as mental health service users/survivors who have taken a lead in pioneering a new approach to research which is now commanding increasing attention and respect. This is Survivor Research for the first time details this important new approach to research.
This book is a major achievement. It helps us understand exactly how far survivor-led research has taken us and how much further there is to go. It also celebrates the enormous achievements of the last 10 to 20 years. It is essential reading for all those interested in mental health research, whether it is survivor led, survivor informed or not. Surely no one can question the substance or relevance of survivor-led research after reading this book.
This is Survivor Research is an important and timely publication. Clearly written, comprehensive, interesting, useful, this is a book anyone concerned with survivor research should have readily to hand.
The authors of this pioneering book spell out in every chapter the ways in which research in mental health can [deliver benefits] in every respect by the direct participation of service users. Underlying this recently achieved consensus is a basic challenge to the traditional way that biomedical research has been undertaken. These arguments for service user-/consumer-/survivor-led or participatory research are powerfully argued, strongly justified, and persuasively marshalled in this very important addition to the literature.
This book marks the coming of age of user- and survivor-led research. It maps out the why, what and how of an important strand of research whose influence is growing in strength. It needs to be read by researchers, policy makers and the wider mental health community to increase understanding of the impact and integrity of user- and survivor-led research.