We had the wonderful opportunity to co-host the Scottish Launch of the CONNECT study at both the Glasgow and Edinburgh sites. This hybrid event delved into how digital devices and tools can predict relapse and inform mental health assessments, care, and support in psychosis. The launch featured a series of thought-provoking presentations and sessions, highlighting the important role of service users in the Wellcome Trust-funded CONNECT study.
The day began with welcoming remarks from Professor Andrew Gumley and Professor Matthias Schwannauer, who greeted all attendees in Glasgow, Edinburgh and online. The first presentation was delivered by Professor Sandra Bucci, who provided an overview of the CONNECT Digital Study and introduced the team. This was followed by Professor Andrew Gumley’s talk on relapse in psychosis, focusing on explaining the concept of relapse and discussion around how it is being monitored in the study.
After a brief refreshment break, attendees listened to an insightful talk from an NHS clinician, hosted by Edinburgh, about research and NHS collaboration. This session encouraged everyone to consider future collaborative opportunities and how vital this will be for the future of healthcare. Following this, Professor Matthias Schwannauer presented on digital mental health tools, sparking a lively discussion on the use of electronic and digital devices in mental health.
The launch concluded with a LEAP (Lived Experience Advisory Panel) session hosted by Glasgow. During this session, we heard from a colleague with lived experience who emphasized the importance of including LEAP in research and their role in CONNECT – focussing on LEAP impact within app development to make this more engaging for future participants. Local research assistants showcased the work of the LEAP conducted in Glasgow such as improved presentation research assistants present to the Community Mental Health Teams and clinicians, which has helped to boost referrals within the site. The Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) session featured insightful video that explored participants’ journeys in the research, sharing variety of emotions participants might experience when being recruited in the study. The information featured in this video has been collated by the Glasgow site as they have welcomed participants into the study and explored their feelings throughout their journey with CONNECT.
This event was an excellent opportunity to present the study to healthcare professionals and stakeholders, expand the understanding of digital technology in psychosis management, and hear insights from clinicians’ own practice. This event marked the first time the sites have conducted a hybrid conference which was a huge success and allowed for accessible learning across the health boards.