The first session of the YPAG launched the beginning of the coproduction of the MHIM Study. Given the participation of young people from across the UK, the session was held online and it took place on the 7th of June 2024.  

The focus of this session was meeting and getting to know more about each other, as well as discussing together the principles and ground rules which will guide our meetings. Being part of the YPAG means committing to making an important contribution to the planning of the MHIM project, and at the same time it is equally important for young people to develop relationships and enjoy a comfortable social space with each other.    

The first half of the meetingwas dedicated to introductions and we learned not only the names and places where young people and researchers were from, but we also got a chance to get creative with our answers to “If you could meet anyone, fictional or non-fictional, who would it be and why?”. Our picks ranged from scientists to Disney characters, a proper all-around coverage.  

During the second half, we focused on discussing ground rules and expectations. Every item was put to a vote and the final list was compiled as below. 

The end of the session saw young people discuss about their desire to learn more about research and meet other young people who share similar interests to them.