Using my experience to help others with mental illness

At Sussex Partnership we work with Experts by Experience (EbEs) to help design, develop and deliver our services.

EbEs play a vital role in the delivery of mental health services by bringing unique, lived perspectives that enhance the relevance, empathy and effectiveness of mental health care. By sharing their experiences, EbEs help bridge the gap between service users and professionals, fostering more compassionate communication and reducing stigma within mental health care systems.

One of our EbE's has written this blog about her experience and why she is so happy to be able to help others, following her own recovery:

"My name is Dulcie and I have been an Expert by Experience for Tier 4 CAMHS for about a year now. The work I do with other EbEs and our participation lead, Natalie, is genuinely so rewarding and insightful that I wanted to share with others.

One moment that has stood out in my time as an EbE is when I had the opportunity to be part of an in-person interview panel for the first time.

Myself and another EbE were asked to help interview for a lead social worker for the new Coast (Crisis Outreach Acute Support Team) service. We watched and scored a pre-prepared presentation and asked follow-up questions, all before communicating with the main interview panel, who asked a series of questions to discuss the candidates and their strengths and weaknesses.

Throughout the entire process, I attentively listened and took note of everything around me, including what I heard, saw, and the interactions between professionals. This helped give me a deeper understanding of the system behind closed doors, as I had previously only been on the service user side - which is a very different experience.

Professionals also involved in this interview process were outstanding in terms of treating us EbEs as equals and not tokenising or babying us because we are younger and have used their services. As EbEs, we always appreciate this approach because it not only makes us feel seen and heard, but also appreciated. It feels surreal to be able to have a say in big decisions, such as interviews and job offers, especially considering that until recently I was in the hospital being treated by the very individuals I am now interviewing.

I cannot describe how amazing it is to have an impact on the future of mental health services through SPFT and the Provider Collaborative, I genuinely still keep thinking 'what do you mean I am on an interview panel?' It is honestly wild to me! It was one of the many ‘pinch me’ moments that happen when I engage in the opportunities presented to me through EbE work.

I hope I can continue to make a difference and use my not-so-good experiences to improve others’ future ones. If you’re struggling yourself, my friends and I are living proof that it does get better."