We are delighted to congratulate MHN DTP Fellow Naomi Williams on the publication of her latest paper in Research Involvement and Engagement. The article,”Patient and public involvement and engagement in co-designing guidance for mental health professionals supporting neurodivergent children and young people in child and adolescent mental health services”, was published on 22nd August 2026.
This important work highlights how meaningful collaboration with children and young people, parents, carers, and professionals can help shape more accessible and inclusive Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) for neurodivergent young people. Drawing on a year-long programme of patient and public involvement and engagement (PPIE) activities, Naomi and her co-authors worked alongside lived experience partners and professionals to co-develop practical guidance aimed at improving support for neurodivergent children and young people accessing mental health services.
The study brought together 60 contributors from health, education, social care, and lived experience communities to explore barriers experienced throughout the CAMHS pathway, including referral, assessment, treatment, and discharge. Participants identified key challenges such as communication difficulties, fragmented services, and a need for greater understanding of neurodiversity within mental health settings. These insights informed the development of an open-access guidance resource designed to support more inclusive and neurodiversity-affirming practice.
The publication also showcases the value of co-production in research and service development. By ensuring that the voices of neurodivergent children and young people and their families were central to the process, the project demonstrates how lived experience can be translated into practical recommendations capable of improving real-world services.
Naomi’s work forms part of the AIDE Study (Autism, Intellectual Disabilities and Clinical Practice: Lived Experience Perspectives of Mainstream Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services), an ongoing doctoral research programme focused on improving mental health support for neurodivergent children and young people.
This publication is a fantastic achievement and reflects Naomi’s commitment to inclusive research, meaningful public involvement, and improving mental health services for children, young people, and families.
Congratulations, Naomi, on this significant contribution to the field and on sharing research that has the potential to make a real difference to service accessibility and experience.
đź“– Williams N (2026), Patient and public involvement and engagement in co-designing guidance for mental health professionals supporting neurodivergent children and young people in child and adolescent mental health services, Research Involvement and Engagement
🗓️ Published: August 2026