In this blog, Andy Buttery, an Operating Department Practitioner, led the multiprofessional team alongside two Clinical Fellows: Isobel Clarke, an Occupational Therapist, and Lauren Philpott, a Children’s Nurse. They were joined by Sarah Keeling-Smith, the Project Manager, who supported the team in operationalising the project from design through to delivery. Together, they created three hybrid simulation‑based mental health education days, working in full co‑production from start to finish with a small group of experts by lived experience.

When the Kent, Surrey, Sussex Regional Simulation and Human Factors Project was formed in May 2019, one of its key objectives was the development, delivery and evaluation of a simulation for mental health day. As reported in our publication, (Clarke, Isobel, Philpott, Lauren and Buttery, Andy 2023. Pilot study: design, delivery and evaluation of a co-produced multi-agency mental health simulation-based education programme. International Journal of Healthcare Simulation. pp. 1-12.) we conducted three different simulation days.

This paper was subsequently recognised by the Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSH) as one of the top 40 Articles of Influence 2023-2024.

We recognised that working in co-production with experts by lived experience (EBE) would elevate the validity and meaning of any simulation. As we engaged with their perspectives, the simulation days evolved into a more complex structure, in which scenarios were embedded within interactive, experiential sessions. This created an inclusive, enlightening event designed to platform collective insight and deepen shared learning.

Central and energising to the work was the contribution of the EBEs who, supported by Isobel and Lauren, became courageous co-designers and also participants of great integrity throughout the design, delivery, and evaluation. The work is a tribute and testament to them all.

Using a unified format, each day addressed different aspects of mental illness: psychotic disorders; depressive disorders; and personality disorders and was delivered between late 2021 and early 2022 in a hybrid format. The MS Teams-based approach, which included facilitated breakout rooms and a 1:1 safe room, managed by Sarah, supported both group learning and psychological safety. The multi-agency participants comprised of police officers, paramedics, GPs, a psychiatrist, nurses, occupational therapists, a speech and language therapist, and suicide prevention worker.

Analyses generated themes around safety, responsiveness, empathy, stigma and lived experience. Participants reported increased confidence and understanding of roles following participation and positive changes in empathy, perspective-taking and behaviour.

The work spearheaded the use of simulation-based education to enhance inter-agency collaboration in mental health care and the importance of a patient-centred perspective. This approach offered valuable insight into co-designing curriculum and demonstrated its impact on care providers’ capacity for safety planning, risk management, and improved responsiveness to acute mental health symptoms.

In essence, we worked in true partnership: power and learning was mutual, we developed meaningful connections, and shared ownership of our goals and achievements. The whole journey has been such a privilege.

Isobel Clarke

This work is ongoing. Most recently Lauren collaborated with people with lived experience of homelessness on another project (Philpott, L, Gurnett, P, Messitt, G, Hamilton, L, Gonzales-Walters, F, Slee, R. Co-production of an interdisciplinary homelessness simulation week. Journal of Healthcare Simulation,  4, no.Supplement 1, (2024)), which also received extremely positive feedback following similar themes of empathy, stigma and increased confidence in the participants.

We would like to dedicate this blog to the memory of Susan Sargent (RIP; December 1955 – January 2026) the epitome of courageously honest service-user involvement as expert by lived experience.