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TV is a key stakeholder. Action Dialogue with Dr. Ann Mitchell

Ann Mitchell is an action researcher at Open University in England, where she is a mental health nurse lecturer. Ann works with migrants from her native country Guyana and is currently designing a national level mental health prevention programme for individuals living in Guyana. She is co-qualification director of a national pre registration nursing degree programme serving students in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.

Hilary: Ann, what is holding your attention these days?

Ann: I’m thinking about when I first started doing my PhD. My supervisor said to me ‘there is something about you and the way you work collaboratively that makes for you becoming a good action researcher!” I didn’t know what she meant at the time.

Hilary: Who was your prescient supervisor?

Ann Tina Koch who has, as you know, written a lot on participatory action research. She said, you are going to take action research a long way. At the time I smiled. So in answer to your question I’m thinking about the difference this work can make to individuals with a long term condition who would like to bring about a change in their lifestyles.

Hilary: Such as with the group of immigrants you did your dissertation with at The University of Surrey. That was a great action research study about tackling diabetes. What’s been happening since? And now with your new big project in Guyana?

Ann: My students are health care support workers who are keen to obtain a degree. I feel that I bring to mental health a wealth of interpersonal skills especially with an interactive component in understanding human behaviour. It’s grounded in simply offering a helping hand and learning together. The action, the teaching, the research, it all runs in parallel.

Hilary: Do you encourage your students to take the Action Research approach?

Ann:  I certainly promote this kind of research. I am thinking of a student who asked me about doing similar research as I did on diabetes. She asked me to look at her thesis proposal. And I said, well, you should consider including some form of action research as a part of empowering the individuals to bring about change in their lives. You can’t really help unless your methodology includes that as a goal. In that sense I can help students develop action research projects.

Hilary: You bring a different imagination of what a truly excellent university could do. And you’re at Open University which traditionally tries to be, well, open! A bit more liberated from the Ivory Tower mentality.

Ann: We’re one of the biggest online university in the world. By the way we’re in transition now but in my more local part of the university I feel quite supported. However in the broader context I’d say we’re in the very early stages of infancy with action research. It’s still developing. Mostly it’s pockets of action research going on in a system that can be pretty positivist.

Hilary: Action research is really a different mindset and people can sense that it’s a transformation of the entire learning and education system. It’s not for everyone. I liken it to the Sustainability focus that is happening in business and economics. Sustainability provides a better system design for going forward. But it’s quite a shift from what’s been conventional. But if we can locate the pockets of people doing this more easily we can experience community and learning together. We can support one another. What kind of programming would you want to see at Open University? Let’s say we get you the funding you deserve for the new Ann Mitchell Center for Action Research.

Ann: OK I like the sound of that! I’d like to see more action research on a larger scale. Start to bring about change in healthcare for many more people. I think especially treating long-term conditions with action research groups can work really well. And more patients today have these conditions, such as diabetes. I’d like to see AR would be a more prominent way of dealing with diabetes or congestive heart failure. These conditions consume the most hours of healthcare. Mental health issues as well.

Hilary: Your model is a combination of preventive healthcare plus studying plus helping. What’s the larger organizational connection – the ecosystem – around this that needs to move in that direction? What are the leverage points you see?

Ann: The stakeholders to Open University include the BBC [TV network], and its ability to shape the public messages on health. I’ve seen many programs that have had an impact on society and reduced medical problems. I could also see involving the police and linking them to public health efforts. And linking that to education of youth for healthy futures.

Hilary: I love it. I’d like to see more action research on TV. Netflix too! Police that work with citizens in action research mode.  I hear you saying that to be real about the potential of this work, its promise, we’d need to have a workshop with the faculty and imagine out loud together how to do this kind of work with their populations. There are already some good examples of impact to build on that can be showcased as inspiration.

Ann: At the open university there is a particular way of doing things. But a new model needs to pull different efforts together, placing patients – young and those with chronic disease – at the center of the new healthcare efforts.

Hilary:  You have a political organizer’s, systems thinking mindset. I am glad that we are currently translating some of your work for the new Spanish Cookbook, Cocina Popular.  We’ll make that available soon. You have already a taste of AR+. What advice would you give us for how to make it more attractive to the Open University? We’re having an AR+ Gathering at Chalmers on March 8th, through the 10th. It’s International Women’s Day. And I wonder if you would be interested in coming to that and representing the Open University?

Ann: I hope to participate as it a way to develop me as well. And it’s building a platform for me at The Open University. So I will be sharing that with the higher echelon here and telling them why I’m going and how it supports us.

Hilary: What would be a good outcome  for you and Open University?

Ann: I am connecting now with the University in Guyana. So meeting with fellow health coaches at the Chalmers Gathering, ones who have completed their projects and can offer thoughts about how to make this happen and how to bring about change. Then I can bring that back and share that, also with my students. Sweden is very forward thinking.  I love the people and their collaborative culture. The more collaboration you have with others outside is a strength in itself.

Hilary: Yes and writing together too perhaps.We’re thinking of a global virtual university or learning platform. We can  offer webinars to develop ourselves and others. You could teach, find co-researchers. Health is so key to a more sustainable world. Is that of any interest or value to you?

Ann: Yes. Yes. I’ll take some time to reflect on it too. I need more supportive systems around me in order to be able to take it forward. I find a lot of strength in this AR+ network.

Hilary: And vice versa. That’s why it’s great to connect. Thank you!