WHOLE-SMI

The WHOLE-SMI team, based at Newcastle University, is led by Professor Emily Oliver and supported by Dr Ilaria Pina (Research Associate), Dan Steward (Research Assistant) and Sue Webster (Peer Researcher from McPin).  The project is due to complete by March 2025.

WHOLE-SMI builds upon the evidence-based Primrose research carried out by our colleagues, but looks to contextually adapt and implement this innovation to a North East setting within the Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear area to holistically support people living with severe mental illness (SMI) to live better lives.  WHOLE-SMI is an implementation study that looks to map the process of implementation of an enhanced, efficient and sustainable service.  The team will provide expertise, support with developing a customized adaptation of the innovation, and continual feedback and service evaluation up to the end of the project.

The team have completed the context mapping phase of the project by conducting interviews and focus groups with experts by lived experience and stakeholders that work in services supporting people with SMI, ethnographic site visits and looking at policy documents.  We wanted to understand how best to adapt and implement PRIMROSE to meet the contextual needs of the North East of England by assessing the current delivery landscape of services that help support people with severe mental illness, identifying gaps in service provision and gaining a better understanding of patient and service needs.  These findings have formed recommendations that have been carried forward into the pre-implementation phase of the project.

In the current and ongoing pre-implementation phase, we are engaging with potential implementation sites in the North East to discuss the possibility of implementing the innovation, how the innovation might be adapted to meet local needs, how current service provision might facilitate or be adapted to deliver the components of the innovation, and identifying training requirements and potential providers for that training.  Our role as researchers is to map the innovation adaptation, implementation process and service evaluation by interviewing service users of the innovation and stakeholders involved in service delivery or implementation.

We are also fortunate to have a dedicated Community Advisory Group made up of a diverse number of people within the local community whose engagement in sharing experiences, feedback and direction continue to be really valuable in each area of the project.

WHOLE-SMI Policy Brief

Based on the findings and recommendations of the WHOLE-SMI project, we have developed a policy briefing document aimed at strategic and delivery leaders.  Our focus is on how we can collectively enhance and integrate physical health support for people living with severe mental ill-health.

We welcome sharing this document far and wide and invite anyone to get in touch for more information.  For more information, please email Professor Emily Oliver.

You can view/download our policy brief here:

Branding: Our policy briefing document, its branding, design and written communication were created in collaboration with Research Retold.

WHOLE-SMI Team:

• Professor Emily J. Oliver, Principle Investigator, Newcastle University (NU)
• Dr Ilaria Pina, Research Associate, NU
• Dan Steward, Research Assistant, NU
• Sue Webster, Peer Researcher, The McPin Foundation

Co-Investigators and Collaborators:

• Professor David Osborn, UCL
• Dr Philippa Shaw, UCL
• Professor Kate Walters, UCL
• Dr Vanessa Pinfold, The McPin Foundation
• Dr Emily J. Henderson, Northumbria University
• Professor Tammi Walker, Durham University

Links

Webinar: Collaborating to develop holistic health support for people living with severe mental illness with Dr Ilaria Pina, Professor Emily Oliver and Sue Webster (YouTube)

Abstract: The current and potential role of physical activity within holistic health support for people living with severe mental illness (page 1246) (The International Society of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity)

Abstract: A case for ‘blurred lines’: Prospective implementation mapping for a holistic health support service for people living with severe mental illness (SSM Annual Scientific Meeting)

Blog post: Sue Webster on her reflections of her first year as a Peer Researcher

Blog post: How we can support physical health for people living with severe mental illness - NIHR School for Public Health Research by Professor Emily Oliver and Sue Webster

Blog post: Mental Health Awareness Week 2023

Contributions provided to the UK Parliament’s Integration of Primary and Community Care Committee by Professor Emily Oliver and Dr Ilaria Pina

Academic Poster: Developing holistic physical health support with people living with severe mental illness (WHOLE-SMI) academic poster by Sue Webster and Professor Emily Oliver.

Want to read more?

Navigating the UCLP-Primrose webpages  

• The UCLP-Primrose (2021-2026) tab provides an overview of what UCLP-Primrose is, where this service is being delivered, research around UCLP-Primrose.  
• The UCLP-Primrose pathway tab introduces the UCLP-Primrose diagram of how support is offered to patients through the service.
• The UCLP-Primrose research tab collates the outputs from research investigating the implementation of UCLP-Primrose (2021-26).
• The WHOLE-SMI tab provides details of a sister project, based at Newcastle University.
• The Primrose-A (2019-2022) tab documents the co-produced adaption to Primrose (Primrose-A) which was delivered and evaluated in London.
• The Primrose (2010-2019) tab provides information about the research underpinning UCLP-Primrose, including the development of Primrose and the findings from the Primrose clinical trial.