Blog
When the Front Door is the First Harm
One consumer’s account of what happens when the intake process becomes the first harm — and a direct illustration of why ‘respect as a clinical metric’ is not an abstract principle but an urgent, measurable standard.
The Velvet Rope of Pity
When we experience a difficult interaction – like being pitied or dismissed—we are only seeing the event (the tip of the iceberg above the water). But beneath that surface lie systemic structures (the rules, policies, and gatekeeping) and, at the very bottom, mental models (the deep-seated beliefs that drive everything else).
The following story by Nicola-Jane le Breton illustrates what happens when we look “beneath the waterline” of a single interaction with a General Medical Practitioner (GP).
The Partnership Revolution
On moving from a cage of protection to a safety net of support.
The Expert in the Room is Me
The following story illustrates what happens when we look “beneath the waterline” of a psychiatric diagnosis.
The 28-Day Constraint: How DSP Rules Undermine the Right to Global Movement (Article 18)
Why is financial security conditional on staying in one place? JH, our lived experience writers, highlights a significant systemic barrier: the 28-day DSP (Disability Support Pension) travel limit. This piece examines how such rigid constraints infringe upon the rights of mental health consumers, creating a system where essential financial security is traded for curtailed movement.
Marriage or Money: How the DSP Partner Rule Violates the Right to Safety (Article 23 and 28)
Marriage or Money: How the DSP Partner Rule Violates the Right to Safety (Article 23 and 28)Author: JH Article 23 of the UN Convention on
Beyond Gatekeeping: Building Foundations for Lived Experience Recovery
Beyond Gatekeeping: Building Foundations for Lived Experience RecoveryAuthor : JH The following article is written by JH, a mental health consumer who has navigated the
A Village Who Remembers Who You Are
Lived experience writer, Nicola, shares her journey from disconnection to finding her place in a community that recognised her gifts. Her story beautifully illustrates the three core principles of our Good Life Vision in action.
Compassion in Crisis: What Good Care Looks Like
This piece is a powerful example of the Good Life Vision in action. It shows that even during the most acute mental health crises, recovery and hope are possible when services are built on respect, patience, and human dignity.