The Complex Trauma & Resilience Research Unit within Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS trust (GMMH) are starting a new study exploring alternatives to inpatient admission, co-led by Dr Kate Allsopp, a research fellow within GMMH, and Rita Horgan, a community researcher with lived experience.

They are exploring the approach of Soteria houses, which provide support in home-like environments that prioritise acceptance, dignity, and choice. While Soteria houses have been established in several countries, none currently exist in the UK.

They are looking for people with lived experience of extreme states (psychosis or bipolar) to take part in a focus group about what alternative approaches to admission could look like in the UK, and we thought some of your service users might be interested in taking part.

They are particularly keen to involve people from Black, Asian and other diverse ethnic communities, and LGBTQIA+ communities, as these groups are often under-represented in research, and we want to ensure that any alternative approaches that we develop as part of the research would feel safe, helpful, and accessible for everyone.

Here is the study webpage: Project details | Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS FT,

See more information about the study here Soteria Focus Group Information