In this episode, Professor Rory O’Connor is joined by Brian Dow, Deputy CEO of Rethink Mental Illness, Aphra Tulip-Briggs, Lived Experience Expert and Trustee at Rethink, and Mariana Bolivar, Research Lead at MQ Mental Health Research.

They discuss the new joint report from MQ and Rethink Mental Illness, which outlines ten key changes needed to transform mental health research in the UK. Their conversation explores how the sector can shift toward earlier intervention and prevention, how research can be made more inclusive and accessible to people with lived experience, and what systemic changes are required to ensure research truly meets the needs of those most affected by mental illness.

Brian, Aphra, and Mariana share insights from their collaborative work, highlighting the importance of co-production, equitable funding, and a research system that prioritises both scientific progress and lived experience expertise.

Season Four of MQ Open Mind is supported by Tiberone Technologies www.tiberone.com