New Beginnings: Reimagining Psychosis Services & Systems in the US

The integration of lived experience within mental health systems has gained recognition as a crucial element in enhancing service delivery and outcomes. This panel will explore the multifaceted dimensions of meaningful involvement of individuals with lived experience (peers) in mental health systems, emphasizing the co-production of services, training, and research. Drawing from qualitative research and panel members' expertise we will examine best practices and barriers to effective involvement. Central to our analysis is the concept of "meaningful involvement," which transcends tokenistic inclusion, advocating for active and sustained participation that influences decision-making processes.

We investigate various models of engagement, including peer support roles, advisory boards, and co-researcher positions, highlighting successful implementations across different mental health settings. We seek to discuss how meaningful involvement contributes to a more empathetic and person-centered approach in mental health services, fostering trust and improving all elements of services. Key factors for success include robust training programs for peers, institutional commitment to culture change, and the creation of supportive infrastructures that value lived experience as essential expertise. However, myriad challenges persist, such as stigma, power imbalances, and the sustainability of peer roles within traditional hierarchies. We provide recommendations to address these challenges thorough different lenses, with a panel with four lived experience experts and one clinical expert. The panel seeks to underscore the necessity of embracing lived experience as a cornerstone in the evolution of mental health systems.

By systematically incorporating the voices of those who have navigated mental health challenges, we can co-create more responsive, effective, and humane systems of care. The perspectives gleaned from this panel aim to inform practitioners, policymakers, researchers, and individuals with lived experience in committed to fostering inclusive and transformative mental health services.