Diversity

I would like to talk about expressing ideas and theories about mental health and mental health provision. I have recently started working as a Lived Experience Practitioner and although I appear to have no problem talking about my mental health experience, I am having a little difficulty expressing my natural ideas and theories about how mental health should be viewed and how mental health professionals should conduct themselves to destigmatize mental health in society. Basically, I'm hesitant to do anything which shows a thinking that in any way deviates from the current social paradigm for fear of being labeled as mentally unwell. I'm sure that this comes from my experiences in hospital where you have to present as 'more normal than normal' to be able to be released. My experience was viewed through a critical medical lens.

Recently I read about Schizotypy and it helped me realize that mental health can be viewed not as a right or wrong scenario but as a diversity of experience. It's time we viewed mental health through a lens which acknowledges the richness of diverse experiences and fosters a more inclusive understanding.

I'd love to explore how we can encourage this perspective and I'm eager to hear any thoughts or ideas on how we might embrace and celebrate mental health as a diversity here.