Co-Production: Putting Principles into Practice in Mental Health Contexts
Cath Roper / Flick Grey / Emma Cadogan
Co-production is a way for participants with different expertise to collaboratively work together. The term ‘coproduction’ is frequently used in public service discourse, but has become something of a buzzword lacking robust conceptual or practical foundations; in this resource we explore how co-production goes beyond traditional consumer participation models.
This resource seeks to explain what co-production is, how it is important, how it is different to other participatory approaches, and specific considerations for mental health and similar contexts in which extreme power differentials are likely to have been experienced by co-production partners. It offers advice on establishing the culture and mindsets from which co-production can take place. It is a resource that we hope will influence approaches to mental health work, policy development, and consumer participation.