A question about lived experience....
What is the role and value of lived experience in the mental health area..
Are they just storytellers or do they have a more meaningful role to play as people can identify with them and because they understand the dynamics of the work-place.
Is there any research in this area?
According to the Black Dog Institute 20% of Australians have a mental health issue in any given year and 54% of these go untreated...often undetected and can progress and deepen. Once they enter treatment, 75% of people improve...
Are lived experience people, the appropriate “first responders” in a workplace environment? How do we use best use their experience to bridge the gap?
Then, how do you manage the transition from a lived experience based discussion to the role of a psychologist (not to mention a psychiatrist). I see so many well meaning people offering what I consider to be advice and I worry about them and the people they are seeking to advise....
This is a big issue for me as I do want to share my story but I don’t want to stray into this area....I know from personal experience that it takes study and lots of experience to be effective in this role...
More generally, my daily feed is full of well meaning (sometimes contradictory) suggestions on how to deal with depression and other mental health issues but there is a danger is just adopting this on-line advice. For example, I personally love meditation but i also know that it opens me up to the very emptiness that was a key component of my depression. I had been prepared for that but when I read many of the “adverts” for the practise of mindfulness, there is no mention of these types of risks...
Should we train lived experience people, not to be psychologists although some do follow that path, but to make the most of their lived experience within the workplace...
I am an advocate for a role for lived experience but a person has to know their limitations, lived experience does not a psychologist make....some careful thought about how to integrate this process into effective treatment outcomes is required...
I am not a fan of regulation but do fear that a lived experience person will get out of their depth in trying to help someone....
So, we need to capture the value of lived experience to enhance the work-places process and outcomes and move those that want to dedicate themselves to this process beyond unpaid storytellers and thereby improve the mental health outcomes for everyone...
Your thoughts and insights appreciated....
Keeping it Real for Lived Experience Lived Experience | Youth Worker | Mental Health | Corrections | Youth Justice | Specialising in Spent Sentences Act, Victoria. Any opinions or comments are my own and mine alone.
5 年There's probably lots of great things for people with lived experience can bring to the table. But the main thing for me is to instill HOPE into the life of someone who is feeling both hopeless and helpless. I am employed in the role of Lived Experience despite my qualifications. I am part of an MDT and know my place and the role I play. My contribution is supporting patients, instilling hope, encouraging their journey to recovery through accessing a range of disciplines. I connect the disconnected and advocate their access to services and assist in addressing stigma. If someone is a psychologist or psychiatrist or occupational therapist, and they have lived experience, good on them. They have so much to offer. However, if they aren't and the boundaries are blurred, then that is separate issue
Thriving with Bipolar
5 年I believe (as I guess I would) in the great potential of lived experience. But for now, it remains untapped. Which frustrates me no end. I built a successful career?despite a debilitating mental illness. To think the only value I can now offer business is to 'share my story' angers me. Because I do not have a degree in mental health does not mean I do not have insights or value to offer. The sooner we realise that education coupled with empathy? can achieve? so much more than education alone, the better off we all will be.? Thank you for dragging this issue into the light Simon.
Working at the nexus of an Investor, Partners and Customers within a Natural Resources Investment Portfolio
5 年It's a good question that likely, very few will be brave enough to answer due to fear of saying the wrong thing Simon I respect & acknowledge those who live with or have lived with mental health & the contribution they make to workplaces and more broadly our communities. Myself, I wonder why you would only focus on mental health & not the full spectrum of health, wellbeing & safety? Rightly or wrongly a lot less study is required when compared to psychology! I know many including David Westgate who have advocated or proposed such a role similar to a mental health peer support or advisor. Westpac have David Burroughs as their Chief Mental Health Officer which initially I deadpanned the role until I met him & understood what David Ninnes was attempting to achieve Those who can & do share their story of hope (or despair) are exceedingly powerful, & my curiosity for change is two fold 1) How can lived experience shift from 'speaking engagements' to integration and assist prevention, not just mitigation 2) Different modalities of support & different pathways of treatment is one of the positives I see with the rise of technology and research, is a full time equivalent person/s what's needed considering the diversity of workplaces?