“We are experts by experience—people who have lived with mental health conditions, people who’ve been suicidal, people who are trauma survivors. That is just as valuable as the kind of academic credentials that people earn. And it’s incredibly important that we work together as partners.” – Leah Harris, MA, Suicide Attempt Survivor and Trainer with the National Center for Trauma-Informed Care (Source Link)
What is Lived Experience? It refers to individuals who, having navigated certain conditions themselves, are regarded as experts or possess deeper insights into those experiences.
The above is the cornerstone of Rcoz’s mission which is to provide an open and accessible website that raises awareness and removes the stigma associated with mental health through sharing lived experiences so that care is accessed sooner rather than later. For a person with a disorder, the average delay between symptoms onset and treatment is 11 years. We hope to bridge the gap.Source link
“When you find other people going through it, it’s like realizing you belong on Earth once more.” – Graham Panther, Mental Health Advocate and Consultant
More than 1 in 5 US adults live with a mental illness (NAMI). Research suggests that sharing lived experiences has numerous benefits amongst which are normalizing it thus removing stigma, helping the community and building relationships, empowerment of individuals encouraging them to seek help sooner rather than later.
It’s therefore very gratifying to find our mission statement validated in the Psych Hub Style Guide authored by Emily St. Amant, LPC-MHSP and Abigail Asper, MSW at the Massachusetts Association for Mental Health (MAMH) website. Our vision statement as stated on our website is: to destigmatize mental health and empower individuals to seek help without shame, provide relatable stories and access to advice from experts on common mental health issues to become a go-to destination for mental health awareness. We are forging a path towards a healthier future, and we invite you to join us on this journey.
Visit Rcoz.us to donate, share your story, volunteer or partner with us whichever way you can. For any inquiries or help uploading stories, please email [email protected]. Lastly, please support Rcoz in advocating to fight the stigma surrounding mental health—by liking, following, and sharing on social media (Instagram | LinkedIn | Facebook ) and subscribing to our YouTube channel to help spread the word.
Citation
Psych Hub Style Guide authored by Emily St. Amant, LPC-MHSP and Abigail Asper, MSW