Mental health lived experience academics in tertiary education: The views of nurse academics

Self Cite

Stigmatizing views towards consumers may be held even by those working within mental health organizations. Contemporary mental health policies require organizations to work collaboratively with consumers in producing and delivering services. Using social exchange theory, which emphasises mutual exchange to maximise benefits in partnership, the current study explores the perspectives of those working within organizations that have some level of consumer leadership. Interviews were conducted with 14 participants from a range of mental health organizations. Data were transcribed, and analyzed using thematic analytic and discursive psychological techniques. Findings suggest stigma is still prevalent even in organizations that have consumers in leadership positions, and consumers are often perceived as less able to work in mental health organizations than non‐consumers. Several discourses challenged such a view – showing how consumers bring value to mental health organizations through their expertise in the mental health system, and their ability to provide safety and support to other consumers. Through a social exchange theory lens, the authors call for organizations to challenge stigma and promote the value that consumers can bring to maximize mutual benefits.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Furthermore, nurses have been supportive of, and instrumental in facilitating educative and academic roles for consumers (Happell et al . ). Consumers in these roles have led to reduction in stigma in nursing students (Happell et al .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Improving exchange with consumers within mental health organizations: Recognizing mental ill health experience as a ‘sneaky, special degree’

Scholz

Bocking

Happell

2017

Self Cite

“…The research is also better informed and there is sense that the study matters (Happell et al . ; Lindenmeyer et al . ; Serrano‐Aguilara et al .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…When mental health consumers are involved in various aspects of the research process, the research design more closely matches community needs. The research is also better informed and there is sense that the study matters (Happell et al 2015;Lindenmeyer et al 2007;Serrano-Aguilara et al 2009;Slade 2009). However, there are significant barriers to involving those with lived experiences in mental health service delivery, evaluation and research.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Our Sunshine place: A collective narrative and reflection on the experiences of a mental health crisis leading to an admission to a psychiatric inpatient unit

Wyder¹,

Roennfeldt²,

Rosello³

et al. 2018

Acute mental health inpatient units are complex environments where tensions between clinical and personal recovery can be amplified. The focus for mental health staff is often centred on providing clinical care, whereas from the patient perspective, the admission can represent a profound existential crisis. There are very few user‐led accounts of their experiences of psychiatric inpatient unit. This project was developed in the traditions of Analytic Auto‐Ethnography, a research methodology which provides a systematic process to reflect on our own experience while still producing trustworthy findings. Through this process, a collective narrative and critical reflection of a group of over 20 individuals with experiences of either providing or receiving care in an acute psychiatric inpatient unit was developed. The narrative developed shows that for some the hospital admission was a time of healing; for others, the inpatient unit represented an alien and unsafe environment, which accentuated the strangeness of the experiences of mental ill health. Common themes among the group were that of an overarching need to make sense of what happened leading up to the admissions and to come to terms with the potential impact of the illness on identity and future. This journey can be best described as a process of healing and moving towards ‘wholeness’. Safety, connection, autonomy and control were identified as factors which either facilitated or hindered the process of successfully integrating the various experiences.

“…Nurses have already shown leadership in the introduction of lived experience roles in academic settings (Happell et al . ; Happell et al . ; Happell & Roper ; Schneebeli et al .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Risky business: Lived experience mental health practice, nurses as potential allies

Byrne

Happell

Reid‐Searl

2016

Self Cite

Mental health policy includes a clear expectation that consumers will participate in all aspects of the design and delivery of mental health services. This edict has led to employment roles for people with lived experience of significant mental health challenges and service use. Despite the proliferation of these roles, research into factors impacting their success or otherwise is limited. This paper presents findings from a grounded theory study investigating the experiences of Lived Experience Practitioners in the context of their employment. In-depth interviews were conducted with 13 Lived Experience Practitioners. Risk was identified as a core category, and included sub-categories: vulnerability, 'out and proud', fear to disclose, and self-care. Essentially participants described the unique vulnerabilities of their mental health challenges being known, and while there were many positives about disclosing there was also apprehension about personal information being so publically known. Self-care techniques were important mediators against these identified risks. The success of lived experience roles requires support and nurses can play an important role, given the size of the nursing workforce in mental health, the close relationships nurses enjoy with consumers and the contribution they have made to the development of lived experience roles within academia.