The Covid pandemic has mental health consequences. This study examined service user suicides for thirteen months during the pandemic and “lock down” restrictions in Ireland .It compares variables from this group with a previous 2016 study examining service user suicides conducted in Ireland. Despite a previous trend of improving suicide there was an increase in people who were involved with mental health services completing suicide during the pandemic.

To hypothesize that social disequilibrium caused by the Covid pandemic and its control measures may remove the benefit of protective factors in suicide.

The 2016 study used the Suicide Support and Information System- Psychological Autopsy Model as its methodology.The Rosenberg criteria were used to make a determination of suicide. This 2021 study used an anonymous clinical record review to repeat some key variables identified in the SSIS-PAM work. Statiscal comparisons were made.

The pandemic group had a different pattern of suicide with low levels of significance between four variables. The majority were female, in a relationship, had jobs, no history of self-harm, no family history of mental illness, less addiction problems and in-patient care. Like the 2016 group they did have diagnoses of mental illness, were in regular contact with services and were prescribed medication. Their suicides were predominantly hanging and drowning.

During the pandemic suicide increased. Protective factors such as relationships and employment were increased in pandemic suicides who also had less vulnerability factors such as addiction problems and self-harm. “Real time” suicide data collection such as a suicide observatory model might identify more significant trends.

No significant relationships.

In the literature, service users and informal caregivers have been critical towards psychiatric inpatient care. However, little is known about their fears related to hospital care.

We describe service users’ and informal caregivers’ experiences of fear in psychiatric hospital settings.

The data were collected from seven mental health associations located in six Finnish cities. Focus group interviews (f=8) were conducted (2015–2016) with service users (n=20) and informal caregivers (n=15), and were guided to focus on violence and challenging situations in psychiatric care. In a secondary analysis, experiences of fear were extracted from the transcriptions and analyzed using inductive content analysis.

Both groups’ experiences of fear focused on themes related to staff, treatment and fellow patients. Additionally, service users had experiences of fear related to the hospital environment. Fears related to staff involved intimidating personnel using force or acting in threatening ways. Participants also described staff seemingly being afraid of patients and care givers. Three types of fears related to treatment were described: fear of not being admitted to hospital even if needed, fear of being admitted to hospital, and fear of coercive methods used in care. Fear of fellow patients involved being afraid of aggressive, unpredictable behaviors, which could cause, e.g., a lack of sleep at night for service users. Fears related to the environment itself were also discussed.

Being hospitalized can be a difficult experience for service users and informal caregivers. These results can help psychiatric healthcare staff acknowledge areas in care that may potentially cause feelings of fear.

No significant relationships.

The direct involvement of patients and carers in psychiatric education is driven by policy in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The benefits of this involvement are well known, however, it is important to consider the ethical aspects. This paper suggests how further research could explore and potentially mitigate adverse outcomes.

A literature search evaluating the role of patients and carer involvement in psychiatric education was undertaken to summarise existing evidence relating to the following: methods of involvement, evidence of usefulness, patient’s/carer’s views and learners’ views.

The Medline search produced 231 articles of which 31 were included in the literature review based on the key themes addressed in the paper.

The available evidence is generally positive regarding the use of patients and carers in psychiatric education. However, available research is varied in approach and outcome with little information on the ethical consequences. More research is required to inform policies on teaching regarding potential adverse effects of service user involvement.

Client Satisfaction with services is an important predictor of health care seeking, treatment compliance and health status outcome. Given that both parents and young people may have different views of services offered, this study examines both perspectives with respect to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in Ireland.

Following ethical approval, the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire-8 (CSQ-8) were sent to all open cases attending three urban CAMHS. Returned questionnaires were received from 426 (280 parents and 146 adolescents) giving a response rate of 49%.

No significant differences were observed between parents and adolescents regarding general satisfaction with CAMHS (Mann–Whitney U-test; Z=−0.255; p=0.799) with a range of good and excellent ratings between 77.1% (for the extent that program met user’s needs) and 93.1% (for recommendation of program to a friend). Significant positive associations were found between age of child (Spearman’s ρ=0.159; p=0.017), receiving a diagnosis (Mann–Whitney U-test; Z=−2.14; p=0.032), frequent attendance (χ2=8.74; df=3; p=0.033) and living in close proximity to the service (χ2=9.24; df=3; p=0.026). There was a strong negative correlation between reduction in impairment and levels of satisfaction (ρ=−0.44, n=275, p<0.000). Waiting time or duration in service were not associated with CSQ and 53% (145) requested clinic opening hours outside of 09:00 a.m. to 17:00 p.m.

Regular user feedback, a robust and distinct measure of service quality, will ensure the development of effective, accessible, client-centered and responsive services, which can evolve in partnership with families and young people.

Service user involvement has been demonstrated as an important aspect of cancer professionals’ education. There is some understanding of service users’ incentive to be involved, but little insight into what motivates them. This study explores this concept more fully.

To explore the motivations and experience of service users’ involvement in radiotherapy and oncology education.

One-to-one interviews were conducted with service users who have been involved in education at the university. Thematic analysis was conducted. Five participants were asked about their motivations and experience of taking part in a variety of educational activities.

The experience of being involved gave the participants a sense of wellbeing and purpose. Three sub-themes were identified that related to service users’ motivation for being involved in educational activities with undergraduate students. These were to promote awareness by sharing their experiences of cancer; improve patient care through learning from negative experience; and personal reward skills for survivorship.

This study has highlighted the importance of hearing the voice of the service users; a two-way engagement for which there are benefits for both the students and service users. The involvement of service users in education becomes part of their personal journey.