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mcpinfoundation.bsky.social
The McPin Foundation
@mcpinfoundation.bsky.social
810 followers 1.6K following 150 posts
We aim to improve #MentalHealth by championing expertise by experience involvement in all stages of research. RT ≠ endorsement. #MentalHealthResearchMatters

Visit our LinkTree to access our website, other socials, news and more. https://linktr.ee/mcpin_fo
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mcpinfoundation.bsky.social
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
To those considering psychology or mental health work, you are needed, valued, and can transform systems. Your story matters. Your voice matters.
November 25, 2025 at 10:46 AM
mcpinfoundation.bsky.social
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.
November 20, 2025 at 2:46 PM
mcpinfoundation.bsky.social
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
loud speaker on left
November 18, 2025 at 10:28 AM
mcpinfoundation.bsky.social
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
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.
November 17, 2025 at 3:53 PM
mcpinfoundation.bsky.social
We are looking for a Research and Involvement Manager to join our team and help transform mental health research. Find out more about the role and apply here.

mcpin.org/about-mcpin/...

Please apply before Monday 1st December 9am

#hiring
Woman pointing left
November 13, 2025 at 2:17 PM
mcpinfoundation.bsky.social
Lots of important points & perspectives were shared, and we came away with 4 top takeaways from the event.

Read them in our blog 👉 tinyurl.com/fh6y5bma
Key takeaways: skills mix, a joined up approach, diverse lived experience voices, better wellbeing equals better outcomes
November 5, 2025 at 2:42 PM
mcpinfoundation.bsky.social
We recently went to the All Party Parliamentary Group on Mental Health’s event on NHS workforce wellbeing.

It’s an incredibly important topic, as you can’t support patients with their mental health if the workforce is under-resourced & poorly managed.

Here's what we heard 🧵
November 5, 2025 at 2:40 PM
mcpinfoundation.bsky.social
Read the report here bci-hub.org/documents/ep...

And find out more about the Agency project here mcpin.org/project/agen... and Agency-in-Practice mcpin.org/project/agen...

@ipanalysis.bsky.social @lisabortolotti.com @matthewbroome.bsky.social @rachelred94.bsky.social @mcpinypnetwork.bsky.social
October 23, 2025 at 3:09 PM
mcpinfoundation.bsky.social
The projects also found lots of examples/suggestions for good practice when supporting young people struggling with their mental health.

These ranged from clear communication – including body language – consistent care, being validated & showing curiosity about the young person.
October 23, 2025 at 3:09 PM
mcpinfoundation.bsky.social
Agency is important because knowledge about ourselves & about mental health is key to good mental health, especially when we need support.

When young people reach out it is obviously important that they receive an appropriate response.
October 23, 2025 at 3:09 PM
mcpinfoundation.bsky.social
We noticed important differences between young people's experiences of being seen in 2 scenarios:

1. Generic, risk-focused, 'gateway' assessment (A&E data)
2. Experiences of being seen by a specialist, recovery-focused, outreach service (Early Intervention Program data)
October 23, 2025 at 3:09 PM
mcpinfoundation.bsky.social
This involved understanding how mental health professionals can support or prevent young people from feeling understood when they seek help. Epistemic injustice in clinical encounters is where one party has more authority and risks the other party’s contribution being sought or valued.
October 23, 2025 at 3:09 PM
mcpinfoundation.bsky.social
Two members of the @circadianmhnetw.bsky.social LEAP delve into the process of choosing the top 10 body clock, sleep & mental health research priorities 😴 and why it was a good example of lived experience involvement in a priority setting partnership.

Read their blog here 👉 tinyurl.com/yc6vh82y
Having lived with bipolar disorder and associated sleep and body clock disruption for so long, I am really keen to understand what is going on in my brain and body when my mood disorder wrecks my sleep patterns, and i know the only way to find out is for someone to actually do the research
October 15, 2025 at 2:12 PM
mcpinfoundation.bsky.social
More details on the poster projects
Details of the CONNECT Study with diagrams about the Lived experience Advisory Panel network Bottom right, an illustration of a procedure as part of the IMAT study A graph showing mental health advisory groups by country
October 10, 2025 at 2:11 PM
mcpinfoundation.bsky.social
Lisa and John next to our poster. Great job Annie, 😀@awalsh9890.bsky.social, Vanessa is also with the team @vanessapinfold.bsky.social

Keep scrolling to find out more.
A man and a women either side of a poster A women to the left hand side of a poster
October 10, 2025 at 2:11 PM
mcpinfoundation.bsky.social
Today is World Mental Health Day and our team have been busy championing emerging practices within lived experience collaborations at the Mental Health Platform Research Summit in Edinburgh. Learn more about our 4 case studies/projects showcased in our poster 👇 #WMHD25
World mental health day logo
October 10, 2025 at 2:11 PM
mcpinfoundation.bsky.social
It was great meeting in person and being part of the Mental Health Platform PPI&E steering group yesterday in Edinburgh. @nessbennett.bsky.social helped us with ripple mapping to think about the impact of our work. Thank you Susannah Strong for coordinating. Looking forward to today's Summit #WMHD25
Group of people standing around a table taking part of a ripple effects mapping activity, with paper being drawn on. Part of the Mental Health Platform PPI&E steering group
October 10, 2025 at 10:34 AM
mcpinfoundation.bsky.social
Lived experience involvement was key to NEON, which looked at how much of an impact recovery narratives can have on people’s mental health journeys.

In today's blog, Programme Coordinator Stefan shares how the panel was involved & the difference it made 👉 tinyurl.com/synbystz

@institutemh.org.uk
I'd say 95% of the decisions about our narrative collection were made by the panel that had public and research team members
October 8, 2025 at 1:36 PM
mcpinfoundation.bsky.social
What would be your priorities for mental health sleep research? 💤

@circadianmhnetw.bsky.social LEAP member Dylan shares their thoughts on the project's final body clock, sleep & mental health research priorities.

Find out what they are here 👉 tinyurl.com/45dwzjfr

@jameslindalliance.bsky.social
As someone whose sleep has been affected by neurodivergence, hormones, mental health challenges and pregnancy, it felt empowering to bring my intersectional voice to the project.
October 6, 2025 at 2:40 PM
mcpinfoundation.bsky.social
Two days to go 🚨

Our free webinar 'New Treatments in Bipolar' is THIS Thursday 5.15-6.30pm.

If you have lived experience of Bipolar, or work/have an interest in the topic, come join us!

Get your tickets here 👉 tinyurl.com/5h6bd855

@bipolaruk.bsky.social @nihr.bsky.social @drtgergel.bsky.social
September 23, 2025 at 9:55 AM
mcpinfoundation.bsky.social
Head over to the McPin Young People’s Network account for tips and stories from young people for young people, and how getting involved in mental health research can be a good source of support too!

@mcpinypnetwork.bsky.social

Instagram: @mcpinypnetwork

#YMHD2025
September 19, 2025 at 3:08 PM
mcpinfoundation.bsky.social
And, in case you needed any more persuasion for involving and supporting young people in your research, here’s what a staff nurse & researcher had to say after her first experience of working with a Young Person’s Advisory Group.

Read her blog here 👉 tinyurl.com/mskbvx95
September 19, 2025 at 3:08 PM
mcpinfoundation.bsky.social
During the Agency project, the Young People’s Advisory Group created resources to help give young people more support & agency in clinical settings.

They created the ‘Agential Stance’ & gave advice for clinicians working with young people.

More info here 👉 tinyurl.com/yxcydfzc
September 19, 2025 at 3:08 PM
mcpinfoundation.bsky.social
When members of the McPin Young people’s Involvement team attended the International Association for Youth Mental Health conference in Copenhagen, they saw the importance of including young people in events like these.

Read all about it here 👉 tinyurl.com/pafakejf
September 19, 2025 at 3:08 PM
mcpinfoundation.bsky.social
YPAG member Lexie – who was on the same Youth Jury as Usman - suggests creating an environment that doesn’t feel the same as a school/work setting.

Read more about the event here 👉 tinyurl.com/35cerznr
September 19, 2025 at 3:08 PM