Research Fellow in Patient and Public Involvement enactment in mental health research

Post Summary

Ireland’s mental health policy ‘Sharing the Vision’ highlights the importance of promotion, prevention, early intervention, and recovery in mental health. The VISTA research programme (VISion To Action for promoting mental health and recovery. An Implementation Science approach to ‘Sharing the Vision’) will conduct research to help transform Ireland’s mental health policy from goals, standards, and procedures to real world changes in practice, service delivery, and Irish society.

In Sharing the Vision, there are very good ideas about how to improve people’s mental health and the quality of our mental health services. However, to make these ideas work in real life may be difficult, resulting in a policy implementation gap. VISTA will create strategies to help bridge this gap. VISTA comprises six mental health work packages, investigating: (1) social media and youth mental health; (2) physical and sexual health; (3) digital interventions in youth mental health; (4) the factors that a person can change to promote recovery; (5) improving involuntary mental health care; and (6) authenticity and diversity in mental health research public and patient involvement (PPI). Our aim is to embed authentic PPI across all 6 VISTA work packages. 

The purpose of this post is to support the delivery of the sixth work package: authentic PPI enactment in mental health research. There are specific considerations for PPI within mental health. For example, unique power inequities, psychiatric stigma, and the impact of mental health challenges on self-esteem and confidence. Unfortunately, much PPI practice remains marginal, with limited influence on research, knowledge translation, and implementation processes. The work conducted by the Research Fellow will bring further clarity on how to prepare and support PPI contributors and effect meaningful culture change. There is also emerging evidence of representativeness and equity problems within PPI.   

The Research Fellow will be involved in data collection with VISTA researchers, knowledge users, and PPI contributors, and will use the data collected along with the best available evidence from the literature to lead out on co-producing a mental health specific capacity building initiative for service users, family members/carers, and the general public. This initiative will develop research literacy and competencies, build confidence and effective influencing skills, and provide ‘on-the-job’ support and supervision. It will be rolled out across the Recovery College network nationally to democratise PPI in mental health research in Ireland.

Please note that Garda vetting will be sought in respect of individuals who come under consideration for a post. 

Application Procedure

Applicants should submit a full Curriculum Vitae outlining how they meet the above criteria. Also include the names and contact details of 2 referees (including email addresses), to:

At Trinity, we are committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion. Trinity welcomes applications from all individuals, including those applicants with disabilities, those who may have had non-traditional career paths, those who have taken time out for reasons including family or caring responsibilities. We also welcome international applicants including those whom have been displaced due to war.

We are ranked 3rd in the world for gender equality (Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2020) and we hold an Athena SWAN Bronze award, recognising our work to advance gender equality. The University is actively pursuing a Silver level award, which it has committed to achieving by 2025. Trinity is committed to supporting the work-life balance and to creating a family-friendly working environment