We are delighted to celebrate a new publication from Midlands MHN DTP PhD fellow Verity Jones, whose latest paper has been published in BMJ Open.
Verity’s article, “Designing and delivering youth mental health services for young people, with young people: what works? A protocol for a realist eDelphi study on effective co‑production”, sets out an ambitious and timely research programme focused on improving how services for young people are designed and delivered.
At the heart of this work is a key challenge facing mental health services: while there is widespread agreement that co‑production with young people is essential, there is far less consensus on how to do this effectively in practice.
Verity’s study takes a thoughtful and rigorous approach to addressing this gap. Using a realist eDelphi methodology, the project will bring together a diverse range of stakeholders, including young people with lived experience, family members and carers, researchers, clinicians, and service leads, to build a shared understanding of what works, for whom, and in what contexts.
By combining insights from prior realist review work with collaborative survey rounds and stakeholder feedback, the research aims to move beyond abstract principles and towards practical, evidence-informed guidance for meaningful co‑production in youth mental health services.
This publication highlights the strength of Verity’s broader PhD research, which explores models of co‑production in youth mental health and seeks to understand how participatory approaches can be used to improve outcomes and experiences for young people accessing services.
Importantly, the study places young people at the centre of the research process itself. Through the involvement of a Youth Advisory Group and an emphasis on lived experience, the project embodies the very principles it aims to define, demonstrating how collaboration can shape both research and practice in meaningful ways.
This work sits within a rapidly developing area of mental health research. As services continue to evolve in response to growing demand and increasing recognition of the importance of personalised, inclusive care, understanding how to embed co‑production effectively has never been more crucial. Verity’s research offers a vital step towards building that evidence base, supporting services to work in genuine partnership with the young people they serve.
This publication also reflects the collaborative and interdisciplinary ethos of the Midlands MHN DTP, bringing together expertise from across institutions and sectors to tackle complex challenges in mental health. It showcases the value of combining methodological innovation with a strong commitment to public and patient involvement.
We warmly congratulate Verity on this significant achievement and look forward to following the impact of this important work as it progresses.
📖 Verity Rose Jones, Imaan Rathore, Justin Waring, Nicola Wright, Sarah-Jane Hannah Fenton (2026), Designing and delivering youth mental health services for young people, with young people: what works? A protocol for a realist eDelphi study on effective co-production, BMJ Open.
🗓️ Published: 13 May 2026
🔗 Read the full article here