CHANGES to Australia's mental health and suicide prevention system must be underpinned by lived experience to ensure appropriate care, say experts at the University of South Australia.
Following the announcement of $586.9 million of Federal funds to overhaul Australia's mental health system, UniSA's Prof Nicholas Procter and Dr Mark Loughhead explain that lived experience can facilitate a better balance between the needs of consumers, carers and mental health professionals, and draws upon research in a UniSA spotlight report developed for the National Mental Health Commission.
"One of the enduring challenges across the health sector is to effectively understand and respond to the diverse needs of different people and groups," Prof Procter said.
"In mental health, this is particularly complex as we are supporting people who have very significant mental health conditions, and we need to provide care which responds to drivers of distress, the wishes of the person, build their capacity, and enable psychological safety for them, families, friends and professional staff.
"Leaders with lived and living experience have a personal perspective and experiences of significant mental health and suicide-related issues and distress; and are able to help design and build care systems with unique wisdom and insights to offer.
"They can help balance clinical and consumer perspectives."
In Australia, more than two in five individuals experience a mental health issue in their lifetime.
In 2020-21 more than 3.4 million Australians sought help from a healthcare professional for their mental health.
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