The first Germany-wide stakeholder participation in mental health, "KOMMIT", is entering the next round. In an open survey of relevant research topics for experts with experience, i.e. those affected and their relatives, in spring 2024, over 1500 contributions with topics were submitted. As part of the evaluation and discussion groups with participants from more than 20 self-help and self-advocacy organisations, these topics were summarised in 20 subject areas. From 12 September, affected persons and their relatives will again be asked to participate throughout Germany. This time, a further three-week online dialogue on the kommit-deutschland.de website will determine which topics are most important to participants. KOMMIT is a project based at the German Centre for Mental Health (DZPG).
The topics to be prioritised come, for example, from the areas of work, education, diagnosis, treatment, society and social issues, quality of life and well-being, prevention of mental health difficulties, support services, causes and development, and consequences of mental health difficulties. At the end of the multi-stage stakeholder participation process, the Mental Health Research Compass is derived from the prioritisation. It is intended to help researchers focus their choice of topics more closely on the needs of those affected and their loved ones.
Openness and depth of results
"While the first online dialogue was about collecting the broadest possible range of topics that experience experts believe research should focus on, the second online dialogue serves to deepen the results by voting on their relevance," says Myriam Bea, co-initiator of the "KOMMIT" project. "In our focus groups, we systematised and deepened the results of the first online dialogue. For the development of the final research compass, it is now important that the experience experts classify the research priorities with their assessment in the online dialogue," adds Silke Lipinski, an affected person, research associate and KOMMIT project manager.
Stakeholder participation right from the start
The project was initiated by those affected and their relatives, who are organised in the DZPG's "Trialogue Centre Council". A working group of members designed KOMMIT with the support of researchers for other affected people and loved ones and will continue to shape it until the publication of the research compass at the beginning of 2025.
About the DZPG
Since May 2023, experts have been working at the German Centre for Mental Health (DZPG) to improve the mental health of the population and destigmatise mental illness through joint research. At six locations in Germany, researchers and clinicians work with experts from experience, i.e. those affected and those close to them, as well as international scientists. At www.dzpg.org, interested parties can find information on the organisation, research projects and objectives, informative texts and helpful links on mental health.
Images and background texts can be found in the download area of the KOMMIT website.
For further information and interview requests, please contact
Silke Lipinski
silke.lipinski@hu-berlin.de
