Ulla-Karin Schön

I am a social worker and professor of social work, with research interests in mental health and disability services. My work focuses on recovery-oriented care such as user participation, shared decision-making, and social justice. A key aspect of my research is Co-production with experts by experience, which serves as a foundation for both research and practice. Central to my work is the exploration of participation, social justice, and, more specifically, epistemic justice.

In recent years, I have led interdisciplinary research projects that examine user involvement, person-centered social practices, the role of digital support in promoting client/patient participation, and strategies for the implementation of new interventions in social services and healthcare. Additionally, I am involved in research exploring ways to support young people who are neither working nor studying in making the transition toward employment, social participation, and a sense of belonging. I also contribute to the UserInvolve program (umu.se), a research initiative focused on enhancing user involvement in community mental health services.

In my teaching, I primarily focus on mental health, disabilities, user involvement, and psychosocial perspectives.