Voices of Experience (Vox) Scotland has today launched a new co-production resource which will support mental health professionals and service providers to implement co-productive practice.
‘Making Co-Production Work: Back to Basics’ was developed by Vox members, all of whom have lived experience of mental health problems, and partner organisations including the Mental Health Network Greater Glasgow, Lanarkshire Links, and The Scottish Community Development Centre.
The resource contains a suite of recommendations for professionals and service providers who are looking to use co-production to meaningfully involve people with lived experience in shaping their policies and services.
The resource is underpinned by four key themes of relationships, power, communication, and language.
The launch of this new resource coincides with the Scottish Co-Production Network’s ‘Co-Production Week 2022’ – a week bringing people together to share ideas, learning and stories about how co-production puts people and communities at the heart of the support and services they’re part of.
Commenting on the launch of the new resource, Vox Scotland’s Manager Wendy McAuslan said:
“People talk a lot about co-production but very rarely talk about the relationships required to be built to make it work, something particularly important within mental health – we hope this resource starts to initiate some dialogue and thinking about relationships, empathy and power, without this co-production cannot effectively take place.”
Vox Scotland board member Martin Robertson, said:
“Co production, done right, means the correct questions are asked in an appropriate way and published in a manner easily understood as well as in academic papers.”
Vox Scotland’s Volunteer Engagement Officer Michelle McBride said:
“We know that good co-productive practice is crucial to ensuring that people with lived experience of mental health problems are meaningfully involved in shaping policy and practice. Co-production is a great way to dismantle pre-existing power dynamics and ultimately create environments where everyone’s voice can be given the weight it deserves. Through this resource, Vox members have shared their expertise on how to ‘make co-production work’. We hope that professionals and service providers will find this helpful in developing their co-productive practice – in mental health contexts and beyond!”
To read ‘Making Co-Production Work: Back to Basics’ click here.
To find out more about Co-Production Week 2022 click here.