Authors: Ellie Hodges
Year: 2017
Event: 2017 TheMHS Conference
Subject: Advocacy,Lived Experience, Recovery,Policy, Strategy,Change, Innovation, Reform,Service Systems, Delivery, Implementation
Type of resource: Conference Presentations and Papers
Abstract: Valuing the lived experience is critical for recovery of mental health issues and for mental health systems to remain relevant and responsive to the people who use them. This is a fact accepted by people who have experienced mental health issues as well as from enlightened professionals, researchers and policy makers. Yet the very nature of lived experience means that it has been unable to gain momentum on a large scale and have resources dedicated to its ongoing development, particularly in terms of leadership succession and having it embedded in systems.
What has been done for lived experience leadership has been fragmented and placed largely on the shoulders of a few individuals. Given the widespread calls and actions toward mental health reform as well as increased recognition and support of the voice of lived experience now is the perfect time to be discussing and debating how lived experience leadership can be addressed and strategies put in place for developing it and spreading it further.
This roundtable will explore these issues for the Australian & New Zealand context based on work Ellie has been doing in South Australia and invite a commitment from participants to keep the conversation and social action continuing after the conference.
Learning Objectives
Learning Objective 1: Participants will be able to share their experiences and knowledge of lived experience leadership with others and help develop strategies for moving things forward in Australia & New Zealand.
Learning Objective 2: Lived experience leadership is a critical component of the ongoing reform of mental health services occurring at the moment and for people with mental health issues. To date lived experience leadership has not been an area actively addressed on a broad scale and needs to be to increase the benefits to all people with lived experience of mental health issues and the broader community.
References
Byrne, L. (2013). A grounded theory study of lived experience mental health practitioners within the wider workforce. PhD research submission to Central Queensland University - www.researchgate.net/publication/277803269_A_grounded_theory_study_of_lived_experience_mental_health_practitioners_within_the_wider_workforce?ev=prf_high (accessed February 2017).
O'Hagan, M. (2009). LEADERSHIP FOR EMPOWERMENT AND EQUALITY: A proposed model for mental health user/survivor leadership. International Journal of Leadership in Public Services, 5(4). (www.maryohagan.com/resources/Text_Files/User%20Survivor%20Leadership%20.pdf accessed February 2017).
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