03/02/2024
Lived Experience in mental health and illness is a game changer when it comes to providing care in any capacity. Why? Because there is a profound and personal understanding, we often are equipped not just with book knowledge, or even client knowledge, but with our own. Our lived experience can be such a power we can utilise - not something to hide.
For me, my mental illness recovery has provided me with so much insight. I was diagnosed with Bipolar and CPTSD and continue to take medications. It is through my own journey of illness, the healthcare system, medications, side effect experiences, the deflation of medications and/or side effects, the never-ending appointments, different specialists having different views (particularly regarding meds), never knowing if anything will improve in life, use of terms such as boundaries, schemas, traits, mindfulness, DBT, CBT, group classes etc.
It is like I have acquired my own small personal textbook I am able to now combine with care that I am so passionate about and committed to.
Others with lived experience would feel very similar!
While my own situation is not perfect, nor ever will be, like everyone else, I do believe the more people with lived experience that get involved with care in any capacity and in all domains, such as the front line workers, politicians, etc we will be able to adjust the mental health care system so that it works and is holistic in approach and continue to improve the care we provide for others on all levels. Really hopeful that we will keep seeing positive changes in this space as we encourage more people with lived experience to participate.
