Emotional experiences of LGBTQ+ people with lived experience involved in mental health research

Magdalene (she/her) is an MSc Cultural Psychology and Psychiatry student at Queen Mary, University of London. She is conducting a study to explore what it is like for LGBTQ+ people to be involved in mental health research, particularly when they have been asked to be involved because of their experience of mental health difficulties. Magdalene is carrying out this study because LGBTQ+ people might have unique emotional experiences during research involvement that have not yet been explored. It is important to highlight these so that research settings can better support their inclusion and involvement.

For this study, the term “involvement” refers to activities such as being part of a research advisory panel, helping to decide on research priorities, collecting and analysing data, and/or sharing research findings. Individuals may have also been involved in other ways. If they are not sure whether their contribution to mental health research counts as “involvement” for this study, they can email Magdalene to discuss their eligibility (contact details are in the “How to apply” section).

Magdalene is looking for people who:

• Identify as LGBTQ+ and/or as having a marginalised sexual and/or gender identity
• Have been involved in UK-based mental health research, beyond being a participant. (This might include, but is not limited to, being part of a research advisory panel, helping to decide on research priorities, collecting or analysing data, or sharing research findings.)
• Were invited to be involved in research because of their lived experience of mental health difficulties. (They do not need to have received a formal mental health diagnosis.)
• Have a level of conversational English that allows them to take part in the interview
• Are willing to take part in an online interview (camera on) that will be recorded

Expected commitment from participants:

• Interested individuals are invited to read the participant information sheet, then complete the eligibility questionnaire (the link to access both can be found in the “How to apply” section below). This is expected to take up to 10 minutes.
• If individuals indicate that they might be eligible for the study, they will be asked to provide their email address and some optional demographic information. Magdalene will then email them to discuss their participation and arrange an online interview. Interviews will take place on Microsoft Teams, and will last up to one hour.
• Following the interview, participants will have the chance to review any parts of the project write-up that directly refer to them. This is so they can check how they have been described and ask for this to be changed, if they would like. This is expected to take place between May and July 2026, and may take up to 15 minutes.

Closing date to apply: Mid-February 2026