INCORPORATING LIVED EXPERIENCE INTO PSYCHIATRIC GENETICS RESEARCH: NOT JUST WHY BUT HOW

The mission of the International Society of Psychiatric Genetics is to “improve mental health by advancing and translating research in psychiatric genetics”. Involving people with lived experience of mental illness in this endeavour is central to the translational objective, and support for that principle is now widespread. However, effective involvement of non-academic partners, and of researchers or clinicians with relevant lived experience, remains challenging for multiple reasons. In this talk I will briefly identify some of the main challenges, explore the roles that people with lived experience can play in psychiatric genetics research, and showcase some projects which have effectively combined lived, clinical and academic knowledge to positive effect. I will finish by discussing how a principles-led approach can help us overcome obstacles and develop coproduction activity which is adaptable, innovative, progressive and authentic.