About us

How FACTOR came about
A scoping exercise on behalf of the MHRN was carried out by Rethink in collaboration with Together, Making Space and http://www.mentalhealthcare.org.uk/ to explore potential roles for carers in the network.

The aim of the project was to establish how the MHRN can support carer involvement in its projects and activities and integrate carers as partners in the MHRN alongside mental health service users, academics and clinicians. The project ran between June and December 2005 and involved several consultation stages including a scoping questionnaire which was sent to carers, stakeholder consultations involving interviews and an e-mail questionnaire, as well as a follow-up web-based survey at www.mentalhealthcare.org.uk to carers with a specific interest in research. 

Following recommendations from the scoping excersise the MHRN established the Carer Involvement Initiative (FACTOR) which aims to improve the involvement of carers in the work of the network.

To read FACTOR's June 2008 newsletter click here