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Although the inclusion of individuals with lived experience is encouraged within the research process, there remains inconsistent direct involvement in many mental health fields. Within the eating disorders field specifically, there is a very strong and increasing presence of lived experience advocacy. However, due to a number of potential challenges, research undertaken in consultation or in collaboration with individuals with lived experience of an eating disorder is scarce. This paper describes the significant benefits of the inclusion of individuals with lived experience in research. The specific challenges and barriers faced in eating disorders research are also outlined. It is concluded that in addition to existing guidelines on working with lived experience collaborators in mental health research, more specific procedures are required when working with those with eating disorders.

The COVID‐19 pandemic led to significant adaptations to healthcare. Provision of mental healthcare in a changing environment presented healthcare workers with unique challenges and demands, including changes in workload and expectations. To inform current and future healthcare service responses, and adaptations, the current review aimed to collate and examine the impact of the pandemic on mental healthcare workers (MHWs). We conducted a rapid systematic review to examine the overall impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on MHWs. Searches were conducted in Ovid Medline and PsycInfo and restricted to articles published from 2020. Inclusion criteria specified articles written in English, published in peer‐reviewed journals, and that examined any outcome of the impact of COVID‐19 on MHWs; 55 articles fulfilled these criteria. Outcomes were categorized into ‘work‐related outcomes’ and ‘personal outcomes’. Mental healthcare workers worldwide experienced a range of work‐related and personal adversities during the pandemic. Key work‐related outcomes included increased workload, changed roles, burnout, decreased job satisfaction, telehealth challenges, difficulties with work‐life balance, altered job performance, vicarious trauma and increased workplace violence. Personal outcomes included decreased well‐being, increased psychological distress and psychosocial difficulties. These outcomes differed between inpatient, outpatient and remote settings. The COVID‐19 pandemic significantly altered the delivery of mental healthcare and MHWs experienced both work‐related and personal adversities during the COVID‐19 pandemic. With the continuation of changes introduced to healthcare in the initial stages of the pandemic, it will be important to maintain efforts to monitor negative outcomes and ensure supports for MHWs, going forward.

BACKGROUND A large proportion of Australians are affected by mental illness each year, and treatment gaps are well known. To meet current and future demands and enable access to treatment which is safe, effective, and acceptable, a robust and sustainable mental health workforce is required. Factors reported to attract people to work within the mental health sector include aspirations to help others, having an interest in mental health and human behaviour, desires to make a difference and do something worthwhile, personal lived experience, recognition and value of discipline-specific roles, and being able to use skills and knowledge within their professional framework. However, despite the various reasons people choose to enter the public mental health workforce, recruitment and retention continue to be ongoing challenges. OBJECTIVE This study aims to explore factors related to attraction, recruitment, and retention of the public mental health workforce in Victoria, Australia. The information obtained will be used to provide specific strategies that will aid in addressing the identified challenges. METHODS The study is a multi-site, mixed methods, cross-sectional study to be conducted at four public hospital services within Victoria, Australia: two in metropolitan and two in regional/rural locations. Current, previous and non-mental health workers will be asked to complete a 20-25 minute online survey, and offered participation in an optional 30-60 minute qualitative interview. Both aspects of the project will examine factors related to attraction, recruitment, and retention in the public mental health workforce. Differences between groups (i.e., current, past, and non-mental health workers), as well as location, discipline and health setting will be examined. Regression analyses will be performed to determine the factors most strongly associated with retention (i.e., job satisfaction), and turnover intention. Qualitative data will be transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed to identify common themes. RESULTS As of May 2023, we enrolled 539 participants in the online survey, and 27 participants in the qualitative interview. CONCLUSIONS To understand issues of attraction, recruitment, and retention specifically within Victoria, Australia, this project seeks to build on current knowledge from within Australia, as well as consider available evidence from international sources. The current project also supports several recommendations made by the Royal Commission in Victoria’s Mental Health System, and results will enable critical workforce planning to ensure alignment of job supply with the demand required by the mental health system, in order to create a sustainable mental health workforce.