Impact of Involvement

Working together

Lived experience involvement is crucial in the mental health sector, providing authentic insights that shape effective support strategies. For us as an organisation and the people involved with us, it fosters empathy, relevance, and meaningful relationships. It is as vital to us that the individuals involved with us get as much out of the connection as we do. Our involvement work needs to be meaningful and create opportunities for people to grow in confidence, develop new skills and above all learn that their opinion matters, and their voice deserves to be heard.

S – Have you ever used Oxfordshire Mind Services before?

K – I haven’t used that many Oxfordshire Mind services myself, but I have used Mind housing. That was about 10 years ago, I lived in shared accommodation for about two years. It wasn’t successful for me; I was very poorly still and soon after moving on I ended up back in hospital. Is it ok that I haven’t used that many services?

S – Of course if we only ever talk to people who’d managed to use our services and found them really helpful then how are we ever going to improve?

K-  True!

S – So what lead you to contact us to become an Expert by Experience?

K – I have a good friend of mine who has been an EbE for Oxfordshire Mind for a while. He told me about it and I thought no I can’t do that! Then he talked it through with me, what he actually did, what it actually meant to be an EbE. I was looking for a new job or voluntary work and he made it sound really interesting and it was the right time for a new opportunity, time to try something new. So I contacted you. We had quite an informal chat, it wasn’t like an interview which can be stressful interview. I think you said that it was good. and I could use my experience to help inform services and help people that are struggling.

S – What’s your favourite project that you’ve been involved with us?

K – Gosh, there’ve been so many done quite a lot now.
I always enjoy the interview panels. They’re always really interesting.
I did a project for. I also really enjoyed when we put together the Lived Experience interview training. It was really interesting to build the training together and then we delivered it. We’ve done it twice, haven’t we now? And each time is a very different.

S – What have you got out of being an Expert by Experience?

K-  So much. I mean it’s amazing to use what was a very negative experience for me for quite a few many years to sort of turn that around. Actually working with organisations to make sure the best level of service and care is available to people that are struggling with their mental health. Being able to draw on the experiences that I have to help other people and help the services improve is really interesting. It’s been really good for me as well because I didn’t work for a while and now to be able go back into work in supported way is great. Plus this role draws on the experience I already have and is also developing those skills as well as learning new ones. It’s given me the confidence to think, yes, I could go back to work and find something.

S – What’s the thing that surprised you most about being an expert by experience? What did you not expect?

K – That’s a good question. Do you know one of the first things I thought when I started? It was like, is this even a real job? Is this a real thing or is it just lip service to something? And actually, what surprised me has been how valued I’ve been as an Expert by Experience, I often ask people that I’ve worked with. Was it useful having an Expert by Experience? And they’ve all said absolutely it’s really vital. And so I’ve made a lot of like good connections and I guess I was surprised by how a people want to incorporate Experts by Experience into their area of work. To be valued like that is really encouraging.

S – Have you learned any new skills?

K – I’ve learned some new skills and I’ve also been able to develop skills that I already had which has been important for me. Being and Expert by Experience has given me a lot more confidence to collaborate with other people, be in meetings, and speak up. You can sort of be launched into a meeting and be a bit like I’m not sure what to do, but I have learnt that I have got something to say.

S – I think that’s what people don’t always realise with Experts, by Experience is that they think of the person in terms of their experience of mental health, but actually they’re bringing a whole heap of other skills, and knowledge with them.

We are all more than just our mental health challenges, and we are not defined solely by a diagnosis, which brings me onto my last question.

What do you do in your free time when you are not working with us?

K – So recently I’ve started picking up my guitar again. I saw that there was an open mic in town at one of the one of the nice restaurants where you can get cocktails. And I just thought I’m just gonna go for it. I’m just gonna give it a go. I do it every other every other week.

S – Wow! That’s so brave!

K – It’s quite nerve wracking the first few times and now I’m more like oh, it’s fine. I’m not perfect, you know guitar or singer, but I enjoy it and people enjoy it.

S – Do you sing and play?

K – Yeah, I do a few covers, but I’ve started playing some of my own songs.

S – You’re amazing.

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