Psychosis HIT 2023-24

The Psychosis Health Integration Team (HIT) is a team of people who experience psychosis, their families and carers, researchers, mental health professionals, commissioners, service providers and other experts. They support the development of evidence-based services that will improve the lives of people with psychosis in our region, and beyond. Here are some of the highlights from the HIT in 2023-24.

5th July 2024

Bringing together national expertise and lived experience

The Psychosis HIT led a hugely successful conference with the International Society for Psychological and Social Approaches to Psychosis UK (ISPS UK) in September. They welcomed more than 150 delegates, including academics, clinicians from all areas of mental health practice, and people with lived experience of psychosis, including the Hearing Voices Network.

The sold-out event, which attracted speakers from across the UK, made evident the appetite to change and improve psychosis practice and build a community to support this ambition. Attendees commended the inclusive and respectful content and delivery, appreciated the space to have conversations and think in a considered and trauma-informed way, and reflected on what they would take back to their own roles.

The event reignited interest in closer collaborations with the HIT and has led to improved partnership working.

Generating evidence to put into practice

The RADAR trial (Principal Investigator HIT co-director Simon Downer) continues to collect valuable data about reduction in antipsychotics for people with long-term psychosis who are in secondary mental health care. Last year, funding was secured to extend follow-up for participants for a further four years – including 10 participants from the original cohort recruited.

HIT co-director Sarah Sullivan is a co-investigator in the £42.7 million ‘Mental Health Mission’ announced by the Government to accelerate research into mental health conditions. ‘P Risk’ – an algorithm to predict risk of psychosis using GP consultation history and sociodemographic variables – is being rolled out across the Mental Health Mission psychosis study sites across the UK. The EpiCare study, which aims to introduce a psychosis data platform, will also start roll out in June 2024, funded by the Mental Health Mission and an NIHR Programme Grant. The HIT’s lived experience service user reference group provided valuable input to this study.

HIT member Mark Batterham and service user researchers are evaluating how walking can support early psychosis recovery. They shared initial work at a public engagement art exhibition in June 2023. The HIT is keen to build on the momentum this project has generated and is exploring potential collaborations with academics, as well as the Healthy Neighbourhood Environments (SHINE) HIT.

Making links across the local system

The HIT is expanding its core membership, including colleagues from Avon and Wiltshire Partnership’s Research and Development team. It has also welcomed Dr Hanna van der Woude, South Gloucestershire Council’s Psychosis Lead and AWP Specialist Psychological Therapies Training Lead, who provides a valuable link to AWP’s Psychosis Pathway development.

Funding enabled in 2023-24

The Psychosis HIT helped secure £2,123,473 in 2023-24 for projects to generate research evidence, improve outcomes and address health inequalities.