Time For Change
Keynote presentation at the International eMental Health Forum.
Keynote presentation at the International eMental Health Forum.
How do we best bring lived experience into university research? I was the first 'Consumer/Service User Researcher' at the University of Auckland and sat on the Medical and Health Sciences Faculty Advisory Committee where I provided strategic and operational guidance. I also helped established and keynoted the first Service Users Academic Symposium.
How do we best deliver Mental Health services in ways people want it, when they want it? I feel privileged to be involved in one of the biggest shake ups in Population Health to unify four national services in Mental Health, Alcohol and Drugs, Problem Gambling and Smoking Cessation. I was the lead mental health writer on the original proposal and Service Architect for the development, design and implementation of these services.
Reaching out for help can be a huge threshold to cross and helplines can help those who can't or don't want to visit a mental health or social service. I was privileged to be Lifeline's first national manager to bring together over a dozen silo'd services into one cohesive platform of helping and online support.
"I wouldn't have come if I couldn't bring my cats. Nothing comes between me and my cats." Research Participant.
I was lead researcher for this project exploring the perspectives from residents and staff at different providers.