Commercial or industrial use of mental health data for research: primer and best-practice guidelines from the DATAMIND patient/public Lived Experience Advisory Group

1BACKGROUNDRoutinely collected health data, such as that held by United Kingdom (UK) national health services (NHS), has important research uses. However, its use requires public trust and transparency. Access by commercial/industrial organisations is especially sensitive for the public, as is mental health (MH) data. Although existing MH data science guidelines emphasise patient/public involvement (PPI), they do not cover commercial uses specifically. OBJECTIVESTo develop patient- and public-led guidelines for the commercial and industrial use of MH data for research. Though UK-focused, their principles may apply internationally. METHODSA PPI lived experience advisory group (LEAG) was created within DATAMIND, a UK data hub for MH informatics. Initial discussion yielded a requirement for definitions and explanations of concepts relating to MH data research, developed iteratively. Subsequently, the LEAG developed guidelines via a qualitative quasi-Delphi approach. The agreed scope excluded data provided for research with informed consent, data processing arrangements (e.g. companies hosting electronic systems on the instruction of health services), and compliance with legal minimum requirements. The scope included the use of routinely collected MH data for research by commercial/industrial organisations without explicit consent, and aspects of industry-led MH data collection conducted with consent. RESULTSAlongside the primer in MH data research concepts, the LEAG provide best-practice guidelines relating to commercial/industrial research use of MH data, for organisations controlling MH data (such as NHS bodies) and for commercial applicants seeking access. Core principles include transparency, patient rights, meaningful PPI, stringent governance, and statistical disclosure control. The guidelines recommend a risk-benefit approach to assessing data access applications, within limits that include avoiding the export of unconsented patient-level data outside NHS-controlled secure data environments, and not providing commercial applicants with access to unconsented free-text MH data. Further recommendations for NHS executive and regulatory bodies relate to public choice and transparency, clarity of guidance to research-active NHS organisations, and support for de-identification. CONCLUSIONSMH data research requires patient/public involvement and understanding. These guidelines reflect the views of people with personal or family experience of mental ill health. We hope they are useful to the MH research community and increase public transparency and trust. 2 PLAIN-LANGUAGE SUMMARYThe NHS collects health information that can help with research. This includes information about peoples mental health. But people often worry about how this data is used, especially if companies (not just doctors or university researchers) want to use it. A group of patients, carers, and members of the public worked together with mental health researchers to make new guidelines. These guidelines help make sure mental health data is used safely and fairly, especially by companies doing research. The group learned about how mental health data is collected and used. Then they wrote guidelines based on what they thought was right and fair. These guidelines say that: O_LIPeople should be told clearly how their data is being used. C_LIO_LICompanies should not get private notes (text) unless people have agreed. C_LIO_LIPatients mental health data should stay safe in NHS systems. C_LIO_LIPatients and the public should help decide how data is used. C_LI They also gave advice to NHS leaders to help protect peoples privacy and make things clearer. These rules were written by people with real experience of mental health problems. The aim is to protect peoples rights and privacy and to build trust while still helping important research to happen.