McPin Young People's Network

In this post, Lisa Bortolotti interviews Rachel Kimberley Temple, Public Involvement in Research Manager (Youth Involvement Lead) at the McPin foundation.

Logo of McPin's Young People's Network

LB: Hello Rachel! What is the McPin Young People's Network and what is your role in it?

RKT: Hi Lisa! The young people’s network consists of over 400 young people from across the UK, aged 13-28, who identify as having lived experience of a range of mental health issues. Everyone in the network has signed up because they wish to get actively involved in mental health research. Researchers can contact us and share their youth involvement opportunities with the network. The network is essentially intended as a resource for both young people and researchers who are seeking to work together. 

My role is to manage a small team who oversee the network; raising awareness about it, building membership, and sharing key findings from projects connected to the network. We also collaborate directly with researchers who wish to engage with the network, advising and facilitating youth involvement in their projects.

LB: Why do you think is important that young people are actively involved in mental health research?

RKT: I think it’s vital that young people have a role in research that will directly impact them. By applying their expert knowledge, the research becomes more relevant, accessible and appropriate. This not only improves the quality of the research but also makes it more likely to achieve the desired impact. Research therefore benefits hugely for involving young people.

LB: How do young people benefit from involvement in mental health research?

RKT: Young people we have worked have told us that they value learning new skills and find it empowering to apply their expertise to something that will positively benefit others. I think this is so important, because having mental health issues can make you feel powerless. Therefore, being actively involved in research can offer a sense of control - a feeling like you can make a difference. 

We’ve also been able to see young people grow in the role; becoming more confident, making valuable connections with external partners and building their own careers.

LB: Can you give us an example of a research project you have been involved with, and of what the young people helped achieve?

RKT: One example that comes to mind is the agency project. On this project, we worked with young people and academics to co-analyse video data of young people’s mental health interactions within emergency departments. We drew on our unique perspectives and expertise, and combined this to make some important discoveries: how to maximise young people’s agency in interactions about their mental health. We translated those findings into various resources targeted at professionals, young people and other researchers.

To learn more about the Young People's Network visit their website or follow them on X and Instagram. 

If you are a researcher seeking to involve young people in your project or collaborate with McPin, visit this page. 

McPin Young People's Network has contributed to several outputs for the Agency Project including a podcast called "How to give young people agency in mental health" and a poster entitled "What I wish my younger self knew about mental health" aimed at secondary school students. Check them out!

Logo of the Agency Project