Experience-based co-design of interventions to improve care quality and reduce detention under the Mental Health Act
8 affiliations
- 1Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- 2School of Health Sciences, City University, London, UK
- 3University of Birmingham - Edgbaston Campus, Birmingham, UK
- 4Greenwich Campus, London, UK
- 5De Montfort University, Leicester, UK
- 6Law and Criminology, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, UK
- 7The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- 8Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
Abstract
Background: The use of compulsory admission and treatment (CAT) for mental health in England is increasing and disproportionately impacts racialised populations.
Objective: This work convened stakeholders in a co-design process informed by lived experience of CAT with the aim of developing implementable recommendations intended to improve mental healthcare and reduce racial disparities.
Method: Co-design workshops were attended by 96 key stakeholders in six National Healthcare Service (NHS) Trusts. Stakeholders included psychiatrists, NHS executives, service users, carers, representatives from voluntary organisations, police, nurses, occupational therapists and social workers. Touchpoints were identified from experiential data gathered through photovoice workshops and action plans formed around them. Local workshops were followed by a national knowledge exchange workshop to connect sites and consider both local and national recommendations.
Findings: The recommendations included the five following quality improvement and care standards: (1) better connections between local services for preventative care, (2) build capacity among the workforce, (3) co-design trauma-informed standards for mental health inpatient care, (4) provide talking therapy before, during and after detention and (5) personalise discharge and community support plans. The need for the resources was supported by the sites, with implementation responsibilities placed in different groups in each Trust.
Conclusion: People from across the systems involved in the delivery of mental healthcare, including patients and carers, have highlighted opportunities and mechanisms to prevent detention and improve the quality and safety of care.
Clinical implications: We present five policy recommendations that could inform quality improvement evaluations in local systems in relation to national systems frameworks such as the Patient Carer Race Equality Framework.
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BibTeX
@article{mooney2026experiencebased,
title = {{Experience-based co-design of interventions to improve care quality and reduce detention under the Mental Health Act}},
author = {Roisin Mooney and Doreen Joseph and Rose Mccabe and Karen Newbigging and Paul McCrone and Raghu Raghavan and Frank Keating and Nusrat Husain and Kamaldeep Bhui and Tara Morey},
journal = {BMJ Mental Health},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.1136/bmjment-2026-302715},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjment-2026-302715},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Experience-based co-design of interventions to improve care quality and reduce detention under the Mental Health Act
AU - Roisin Mooney
AU - Doreen Joseph
AU - Rose Mccabe
AU - Karen Newbigging
AU - Paul McCrone
AU - Raghu Raghavan
AU - Frank Keating
AU - Nusrat Husain
AU - Kamaldeep Bhui
AU - Tara Morey
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/04
JO - BMJ Mental Health
DO - 10.1136/bmjment-2026-302715
UR - https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjment-2026-302715
AB - Background: The use of compulsory admission and treatment (CAT) for mental health in England is increasing and disproportionately impacts racialised populations. Objective: This work convened stakeholders in a co-design process informed by lived experience of CAT with the aim of developing implementable recommendations intended to improve mental healthcare and reduce racial disparities. Method: Co-design workshops were attended by 96 key stakeholders in six National Healthcare Service (NHS) Trusts. Stakeholders included psychiatrists, NHS executives, service users, carers, representatives from voluntary organisations, police, nurses, occupational therapists and social workers. Touchpoints were identified from experiential data gathered through photovoice workshops and action plans formed around them. Local workshops were followed by a national knowledge exchange workshop to connect sites and consider both local and national recommendations. Findings: The recommendations included the five following quality improvement and care standards: (1) better connections between local services for preventative care, (2) build capacity among the workforce, (3) co-design trauma-informed standards for mental health inpatient care, (4) provide talking therapy before, during and after detention and (5) personalise discharge and community support plans. The need for the resources was supported by the sites, with implementation responsibilities placed in different groups in each Trust. Conclusion: People from across the systems involved in the delivery of mental healthcare, including patients and carers, have highlighted opportunities and mechanisms to prevent detention and improve the quality and safety of care. Clinical implications: We present five policy recommendations that could inform quality improvement evaluations in local systems in relation to national systems frameworks such as the Patient Carer Race Equality Framework.
SN - 2755-9734
ER -