Building consensus between lived experience and professional stakeholders on mental health research priorities: a Delphi study

Abstract

ABSTRACT Objective The limited research funding available needs to be directed towards stakeholder-identified priorities that will have the largest positive impacts on mental health. This study aimed to identify consensus mental health research priorities across lived experience and mental health professional panels. Method A modified Delphi study with two panels (lived and professional experience in mental health) was used to identify priorities over three rounds. Priorities were rated on a 9-point scale from not important, important but not critical, to critical. Consensus (≥80% agreement on items rated ≥ 6 in importance across both panels) was analysed descriptively. Results 1015 initial potential priorities and 18 additional priorities were rated by panel members (N = 120, 52 lived experience, 68 professionals), with 608 priorities achieving consensus across 23 mental health domains. Priority themes included: services; prevention, early intervention, detection and health promotion; intersectionality; determinants of mental health; translation; culture, spirituality and wellbeing (identity); suicide and self-harm; data and technology; capacity building; trauma; physical health; stigma and shame; help-seeking and coping; and co-design. Conclusions There was high agreement across stakeholders on mental health research priorities, which may provide a basis for funding allocations for impactful research that would improve the mental health of the community.