BeGOOD Early Intervention Ethics (EIE) is a research study comprised of distinct but overlapping studies –Mothers, Psychosis and Citizens EIE – focused on the ethical, societal and scientific dimensions of the early intervention paradigm where it intersects with psychiatry, mental health and child development.
A core component of our research focuses on involving young people in the development of our research, through our Young People’s Advisory Groups (YPAG) who meet regularly. Around 30 young people from Oxfordshire take part in these collaborative groups with us, aiming to develop a set of innovative and scalable tools that will enable better research and understanding of young people’s moral experiences, attitudes, and challenges.
One of our earlier research studies, Psychosis EIE investigated the conceptualization and enactment of ‘good practice’ in early intervention in psychosis services from the perspectives of service users and clinicians. Mothers EIE investigated the social, political and ethical dimensions of early intervention in maternal and child development drawing on fieldwork in Northern Ireland and Mother and Baby Units in UK Women’s Prisons. Citizens EIE focuses on investigating young people’s values, preferences and experiences relating mental health early intervention.
The BeGOOD team is part of the Neuroscience, Ethics and Society research group, uniquely situated within Oxford Psychiatry and Neuroscience. We build collaborative research relationships with scientists and clinicians while maintaining a critical perspective and a portfolio of independent research projects. We have formal affiliations and conduct research and training activities, with the Oxford Uehiro Centre in the Department of Philosophy and The Oxford Ethox Centre in the Nuffield Department for Population Health. The BeGOOD team leads the Psy-Ethics education and training platform, which enables activities within the Oxford Health Foundation Trust and engagements with academic and health groups across Oxford.
BeGOOD started in July 2015, so watch this space for news about our developments, aspirations, and accomplishments, as we grow. Many thanks to the Wellcome Trust for the Senior Investigator Award to Professor Ilina Singh, which launched us (2015-2020)!