Challenges and opportunities in research in Co-creation and gender perspective

The Co-Elna project

The Breakfast & Learn about the Co-Elna project was an enriching meeting that had the participation of 61 people, including researchers, people with first-hand experience and representatives of the Public Administration. The debate was focused on the challenges and opportunities presented by co-creation research with a gender perspective, highlighting the Co-Elna project as an example of social and scientific transformation.

During the round table, the experts from the Co-Elna project shared valuable reflections on the importance of including the gender perspective and first-person experience in research processes:

• Laia Nebot (Salut Mental Catalunya) highlighted the lack of data on women with mental disorders and motherhood, noting that, although 50% of women with mental disorders are mothers, there is still a strong reluctance to ask for help due to social stigma.
• Victoria Espinosa (Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu) spoke about the importance of co-creation in research, underlining the need for transparency in the processes and to achieve a balance between scientific rigor and the active involvement of people with their own experience in the projects.
• Alicia Mendo (SJD Mental Health Ethics Committee) shared her personal experience as a woman, mother and person with first-hand experience in mental health, highlighting the change in the paternalistic model in health care, but also the need to continue working to break down biases and stigma.

Key reflections:

• Complexity of co-creation: Carrying out a transfer project and co-creative research is a challenge that requires time and a specific methodology. Horizontal participation, continuous communication and adaptability are fundamental elements. This involves adequate training, financial support and a balanced distribution of workloads.
• Include the third sector: To ensure that research results are applicable and have a real impact, the inclusion of the third sector in research projects is essential.
• Objectives of the Co-Elna project: The project seeks to collect data on women and mothers with mental health problems in order to address the specific challenges of this group. At the end of the project, guides and materials aimed at both professionals and users will be developed.
• Voice of people with their own experience: The Co-Elna project is an example of how the voice of people with experience in mental health must have a central place in research and knowledge transfer.
• Institutional adaptation: It is crucial that funding bodies and scientific institutions adapt the requirements of the calls, considering the singularities of co-creation projects, especially those focused on dissemination and social impact.

The Co-Elna project continues to advance with the aim of promoting more inclusive, equitable research with a real social impact, working to improve the situation of women with mental health problems and ensure that their voices are heard.

Here you can watch the video of the session.