Letter to myself on leaving psychiatric hospital

Chapter about lived experience

Promoting lived experience perspective

This paper has been developed to prompt thinking and discussion on ways to promote lived experience participation in Queensland’s mental health sector

Psychiatrists teaching mental health nursing : what's the problem? [Editorial]

We can almost hear the gasps and see the looks of shock and horror on your faces as you read this, but I pose thequestion: why not? Psychiatrists are well versed in thebiological aspects of mental illness, they have sound knowledge of medications and other medical treatments,and they have been educated in physical illness and injuries. Surely this attests to their expertise? Some psychiatristshave interest and expertise in the social and psychological aspects of caring for people diagnosed with a mental illness

Innovation in mental health nursing education

This article profiles Louise Byrne, a lecturer and course coordinator for Central Queensland University's undergraduate and postgraduate "Recovery Approach in Mental Health" courses. Innovations in mental health nursing education which have been seen at Central Queensland University and its Centre for Mental Health Nursing Innovation are discussed

Teaching from lived experience : a way to make mental health nursing more popular?

The challenge of attracting graduate nurses into mental health nursing has been demonstrated over the years. Despite hard work and innovation from many dedicated mental health nurses from academia and clinical practice, and funded programs such as the major in mental health nursing, not much has changed

Final report: Identifying barriers to change: The lived experience worker as a valued member of the mental health team

The lived experience workforce in Australia includes peer support workers; consumer consultants; consumer companions; experts by experience and various lived experience roles in education, training, policy design and systemic advocacy. This emergent and increasingly impactful section of the mental health workforce is growing rapidly, however expansion of the roles is ad hoc with little structured workforce development to date. Previous research also indicates the way lived experience workers are collaborated with, integrated or utilised is highly variable. A Grounded Theory study funded by the Queensland Mental Health Commission explored executive/senior management perspectives on the barriers and enablers facing the lived experience workforce, with a particular emphasis on why organisations were embracing lived experience workers to greater or lesser degrees. In-depth interviews and focus groups were held with 29 participants in total; 16 participants employed within the not-for-profit sector, 13 employed in state government run organisations.The findings of the study overwhelming indicate executive/senior management commitment and action is critical to the success of lived experience roles. Greater or lesser understanding of lived experience work and perceived value by executive/senior management proportionately impacted the degree of commitment and action demonstrated by management. Subsequently, the degree of management commitment influenced organisational factors and ultimately, the evolution and future growth of lived experience both within organisations and outside the mental health sector

Recovery without autonomy: Progress forward or more of the same for mental health service users?

In Western nations, the Recovery approach has become a widely accepted philosophy and treatment concept in mental health. Yet, community understanding of the Recovery approach remains largely unexplored. This study aimed to investigate (i) people's awareness of the principles underpinning the Recovery approach in mental health, and (ii) the treatment approaches people consider most important, and whether these align with the Recovery approach. To achieve these aims, a random sample of 1217 Australian adults participated in the National Social Survey (QSS) via telephone interview. People's experience with mental health services, the importance they place on various treatment approaches, and their awareness of principles underpinning the Recovery approach were assessed. Analyses were conducted using descriptive statistics. Most participants (94%) agreed that 'regardless of the severity of symptoms experienced and/or the mental illness diagnosis, being diagnosed with a mental illness means there is always hope for a meaningful life'. Moreover, most participants considered treatments in line with the Recovery approach as important. However, few participants (35%) agreed with the principle that 'after diagnosis, the person themselves should direct the long-term management of their mental illness, rather than a medical professional'. Australian people were to some extent aware of the principles underpinning the Recovery Approach, particularly with regard to hope, ability to live a meaningful life, and the importance of support from family, friends, and others living with mental illness. Nonetheless, autonomy was not highly prioritized, with the prevailing view that management of mental illness should be directed by the medical profession

Attitudes of nursing students on consumer participation : the effectiveness of the mental health consumer participation questionnaire

Purpose: The aims of this article were to evaluate the Mental Health Consumer Participation Questionnaire, and measure nursing students’ attitudes to consumerparticipation. Design and Methods: Undergraduate nursing students (n = 116) completedthe Mental Health Consumer Participation Questionnaire at the start of a course on recovery for mental health nursing practice. Findings: The current findings confirm an endorsement of consumer participation in individual care processes, but less agreement with participation in organizational-level processes, such as management of mental health services and education of providers. This article also confirms that the questionnaire can effectively measure attitudes to consumer participation. Practice Implications: The participation of consumers is critical for achieving person-centered services mental health services. It is important that nursing education influence positive attitudes

Lived experience practitioners and the medical model : world’s colliding?

Background: Australian mental health policy requires that mental health services facilitate meaningful and genuine consumer participation in all aspects of mental health services. Roles for practitioners who work from their own experience of significant mental health challenges and mental health service use have been implemented in many services to promote participation and the development of more consumer focused services. Aims: To enhance understanding of perspectives of individuals working in lived experience roles to more closely understand their experiences and opinions about these roles. Method: A grounded theory study interviews were conducted with 13 lived experience practitioners. Results: The medical model was a core category arising from this work. Participants described the medical model as a prevailing culture within mental health services from their personal and professional experiences. This culture imposed a major limitation on the implementation, effectiveness and development of lived experience roles and themselves as individuals. It was also seen as a major limitation to the progress of Recovery orientated reform. Conclusions: The development of Recovery oriented services requires a strong lived experience practitioner workforce, with appropriate resourcing and support available. The current medical model approach requires critique to facilitate reform and avoid tokenism

Recovery as a lived experience discipline : a grounded theory study

Recovery is government mandated and a core facet of mental health reform. However, Recovery implementation in this country has been inhibited by a lack of education and understanding from clinicians. A grounded theory study was undertaken to explore the potential and existing role of lived experience practitioners in assisting meaningful implementation of Recovery within the Australian mental health sector. In-depth interviews were conducted with 13 people employed to work from a lived experience perspective. The findings suggest participants have experienced and observed significant barriers to the implementation of Recovery focused practice while operating in lived experience roles. Three main issues emerged: Recovery co-opted, Recovery uptake and Recovery denial. For a genuine Recovery focused mental health system to be developed, lived experience practitioners must be enabled to take their role as Recovery experts and leaders. Lived experience practitioners are the logical leaders of Recovery implementation due to their own internal experience and understanding of Recovery and the wider lived experience movement’s development and championing of the concepts