Raising the Voice of Lived Experience

In 2021, Shine was selected as host agency following a competitive Expression of Interest Process, facilitated on behalf of the NIMC Steering Committee by the HSE Mental Health Engagement and Recovery Office. By participating in the group, Shine supports meaningful engagement and collaboration, ensuring that diverse perspectives inform the implementation of Sharing the Vision, Ireland's mental health strategy. This involvement reflects Shine's ongoing commitment to empowering individuals, reducing stigma, and advocating for mental health services that truly meet the needs of those they serve.

The Reference Group was established in 2021 as part of the governance structure for implementing Sharing the Vision, Ireland’s national mental health policy. It was created under the guidance of the National Implementation and Monitoring Committee (NIMC) to ensure that the lived experiences of individuals with mental health challenges, as well as their families and supporters, are central to the development and monitoring of mental health services and policies.

The group was formed through a consultative process, engaging stakeholders from various mental health organisations and advocacy groups to ensure diverse and representative membership. This approach reflects a commitment to collaboration and inclusivity in shaping Ireland's mental health strategy.

So many things have been so discouraging throughout my lifetime but now, I feel we standing on the shoulders of giants, we are standing tall and we are paving the way for those who will come after us to shine the light on all the positive changes and improvements that this implementation plan will make to society at large"   
‍Reference Group member

“If the priorities of people with lived-experience of mental ill-health and the needs of carers, families and kinship groups were driving funding and research, less bio-neurological and psychological-focussed research topics would dominate (as they currently do) in medical, public health, health services research and mental health translation research funding streams… Instead, quality of care, improvements in mental health service delivery attending to social issues and social determinants, peer (lived-experience) models of care and improving experiences of care would be funded… The social determinants of health would be embedded within models of care and intersecting issues of violence, abuse and poverty and, trauma-violence informed care”. Palmer, V. J., Wheeler, A. J., Jazayeri, D., Gulliver, A., Hegarty, K., … Moorhouse, J. (2024). Lost in translation: a narrative review and synthesis of the published international literature on mental health research and translation priorities (2011–2023). Journal of Mental Health, 1–17.

“I am delighted that Shine has been selected to host the Reference Group for the Sharing the Vision National Implementation Monitoring Committee. Shine is proud of its long history of working to empower people with mental health difficulties, their families and supporters through support, information and education and by advocating for social change. We look forward to the centrality of the voice of those that experience mental health services and authentic engagement with service development.”   
Nicola Byrne, CEO, Shine