The COMIC YPAN is a collection of community groups, charities, schools, universities, inpatient units and individuals who wish to use their voice’s and lived experiences to impact change within mental health research carried out by Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust Research and Development Department. The network gives young people a voice in discussions around their mental health and how research is developed in this area, ensuring it is young person led and young person focussed.
The research carried out in COMIC is co-produced where possible and young people are at the heart of this. The YPAN currently boasts over 140 young people from all over Yorkshire who the COMIC team meet regularly to discuss our studies through PPI (Patient and Public Involvement). With aims to utilise the lived experience of young people, the YPAN is currently focussing on diversifying its cohort by contacting minority communities to ensure their voices are heard.