ALIVE — a new era of lived experience at the centre of mental health research and reform

Mental Health Australia has today welcomed the announcement of ALIVE, a new national Academy of LIVed Experience, which will put expertise gained from the lived experience of people with mental ill-health at the heart of mental health research, with a view to improving Australia’s mental health landscape.

A $10 million Australian Government investment launched today, ALIVE will enable collaborations with researchers across population health, primary care, and community and hospital-based specialist care settings to embed the expertise of those with lived experience as part of their research co-design.

“Mental Health Australia is excited to be part of such a ground-breaking initiative to improve health outcomes for Australians with mental illness and reduce the individual, social and economic inequities associated with current care,” says Mental Health Australia CEO, Dr Leanne Beagley.

“Such an initiative brings together the expertise of people with lived experience, researchers, and health professionals to translate high-quality research into effective health policy practice and healthcare improvements that are truly person-led.

“The meaningful involvement of people with lived experience — including priority population leaders and communities — has been historically neglected when it comes to shaping our collective understanding of mental ill-health and informing policy responses and systemic reform.

“At Mental Health Australia we hope the ALIVE initiative will help foster a new era for consumer-led mental health care in Australia that will benefit all Australians.”

ALIVE will be funded over five years through the National Health and Medical Research Council Special Initiative in Mental Health grant. Mental Health Australia is pleased to be playing a role as co-chair of the Intersectoral policy and practice advisory committee, to ensure that co-designed research informs the mental health sector and policy reform in the future.

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Media Contact: Lachlan Searle – 0488 076 088

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