Publications

We were trying to find out from people with lived experience of mental illness what the Mental
Welfare Commission should concentrate on during its visits to psychiatric wards and wanted
this to enhance the knowledge our practitioners already had from their own practice.

The following paper reflects the voice, experience and opinions that people with lived
experience, and their families/carers, provided for the Commission around their work on the good practice guide Use of seclusion. It will inform our work and future reports on this subject but is not, in itself, an expression of the Commission’s views on this area.

The views of people with experience of mental ill health on the barriers that they face in getting legal representation.

The Engagement and Participation Officer (Carer) at the Commission visits support groups for people looking after individuals who have mental illness, learning difficulties, autism or dementia. We also meet with carers one-to-one if they prefer, and attend relevant conferences where discussions around issues takes place. We contact new groups regularly, and revisit others when we have new issues to discuss.

People with lived experience, their friends and family on what they would like the Mental Welfare Commission to concentrate on over the coming months and years.

How people with lived experience and their friends and family want to be involved in developing care plans; what they should contain, and what they should look like.

The views of people with lived experience on supported decision making and people with a mental illness - some practicalities.

The views of people with lived experience of mental ill health and carers on the purpose of a psychiatric hospital, and some of the elements that are appreciated and those that are not.

The views of people with lived experience on how much we want to keep our autonomy when being cared for.

The following paper reflects the voice, experience and opinions that people with lived experience and carers, as individuals and as groups, provided for the Commission’s current work on supported decision making.