Investigating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on recovery colleges: multi-site qualitative study

Merly McPhilbin; Katy Stepanian; Caroline Yeo; Daniel Elton; Danielle Dunnett; Helen Jennings; Holly Hunter-Brown; Jason Grant-Rowles; Julie Cooper; Katherine Barrett; Mirza Hamie; Peter Bates; Rebecca McNaughton; Sarah Trickett; Simon Bishop; Simran Takhi; Stella Lawrence; Yasuhiro Kotera; Daniel Hayes; Larry Davidson; Amy Ronaldson; Tesnime Jebara; Cerdic Hall; Lisa Brophy; Jessica Jepps; Sara Meddings; Claire Henderson; Mike Slade; Vanessa Lawrence

doi:10.1192/bjo.2024.70

BJPsych Open (May 2024)

Investigating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on recovery colleges: multi-site qualitative study

Merly McPhilbin,
Katy Stepanian,
Caroline Yeo,
Daniel Elton,
Danielle Dunnett,
Helen Jennings,
Holly Hunter-Brown,
Jason Grant-Rowles,
Julie Cooper,
Katherine Barrett,
Mirza Hamie,
Peter Bates,
Rebecca McNaughton,
Sarah Trickett,
Simon Bishop,
Simran Takhi,
Stella Lawrence,
Yasuhiro Kotera,
Daniel Hayes,
Larry Davidson,
Amy Ronaldson,
Tesnime Jebara,
Cerdic Hall,
Lisa Brophy,
Jessica Jepps,
Sara Meddings,
Claire Henderson,
Mike Slade,
Vanessa Lawrence

Affiliations

Merly McPhilbin: ORCiD; Institute of Mental Health, School of Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, UK
Katy Stepanian: Department of Health Service and Population Research, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
Caroline Yeo: Buildings, Energy & Environment Research Group, Department of Architecture & Built Environment, University of Nottingham, UK
Daniel Elton: RECOLLECT Lived Experience Advisory Panel (LEAP), Kings College London, UK
Danielle Dunnett: Department of Health Service and Population Research, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
Helen Jennings: College of Health, Wellbeing and Life Sciences, Sheffield Hallam University, UK
Holly Hunter-Brown: Department of Health Service and Population Research, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
Jason Grant-Rowles: RECOLLECT Lived Experience Advisory Panel (LEAP), Kings College London, UK
Julie Cooper: RECOLLECT Lived Experience Advisory Panel (LEAP), Kings College London, UK
Katherine Barrett: RECOLLECT Lived Experience Advisory Panel (LEAP), Kings College London, UK
Mirza Hamie: RECOLLECT Lived Experience Advisory Panel (LEAP), Kings College London, UK
Peter Bates: Peter Bates Associates, Nottingham, UK
Rebecca McNaughton: RECOLLECT Lived Experience Advisory Panel (LEAP), Kings College London, UK
Sarah Trickett: RECOLLECT Lived Experience Advisory Panel (LEAP), Kings College London, UK
Simon Bishop: Nottingham University Business School, University of Nottingham, UK
Simran Takhi: Institute of Mental Health, School of Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, UK
Stella Lawrence: RECOLLECT Lived Experience Advisory Panel (LEAP), Kings College London, UK
Yasuhiro Kotera: Institute of Mental Health, School of Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, UK
Daniel Hayes: ORCiD; Research Department of Behavioural Science and Health, Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care, University College London, UK
Larry Davidson: Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, Yale School of Medicine, Connecticut, USA
Amy Ronaldson: ORCiD; Department of Health Service and Population Research, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
Tesnime Jebara: Department of Health Service and Population Research, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
Cerdic Hall: St Pancras Hospital, Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
Lisa Brophy: ORCiD; School of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport, La Trobe University, Australia
Jessica Jepps: Department of Health Service and Population Research, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
Sara Meddings: Duncan Macmillan House, ImROC, Nottingham, UK
Claire Henderson: ORCiD; Department of Health Service and Population Research, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
Mike Slade: ORCiD; Institute of Mental Health, School of Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, UK; and Division of Health and Community Participation, Faculty of Nursing and Health Sciences, Nord University, Norway
Vanessa Lawrence: ORCiD; Social Epidemiology Research Group, Department of Health Service and Population Research, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, UK

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1192/bjo.2024.70
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 10

Abstract

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Background During the COVID-19 pandemic, mental health problems increased as access to mental health services reduced. Recovery colleges are recovery-focused adult education initiatives delivered by people with professional and lived mental health expertise. Designed to be collaborative and inclusive, they were uniquely positioned to support people experiencing mental health problems during the pandemic. There is limited research exploring the lasting impacts of the pandemic on recovery college operation and delivery to students. Aims To ascertain how the COVID-19 pandemic changed recovery college operation in England. Method We coproduced a qualitative interview study of recovery college managers across the UK. Academics and co-researchers with lived mental health experience collaborated on conducting interviews and analysing data, using a collaborative thematic framework analysis. Results Thirty-one managers participated. Five themes were identified: complex organisational relationships, changed ways of working, navigating the rapid transition to digital delivery, responding to isolation and changes to accessibility. Two key pandemic-related changes to recovery college operation were highlighted: their use as accessible services that relieve pressure on mental health services through hybrid face-to-face and digital course delivery, and the development of digitally delivered courses for individuals with mental health needs. Conclusions The pandemic either led to or accelerated developments in recovery college operation, leading to a positioning of recovery colleges as a preventative service with wider accessibility to people with mental health problems, people under the care of forensic mental health services and mental healthcare staff. These benefits are strengthened by relationships with partner organisations and autonomy from statutory healthcare infrastructures.

Published in BJPsych Open

ISSN: 2056-4724 (Online)
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Medicine: Internal medicine: Neurosciences. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry: Neurology. Diseases of the nervous system: Psychiatry
Website: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/bjpsych-open

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