Consumer and Carers

Mentally Healthy Safety and Quality Engagement Guidelines

Under the Fifth National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan, the Commission has developed a guide for consumer and carers, to strengthen their role in safety and quality initiatives within mental health services.

Mental Health Safety and Quality Engagement GuideThe Mental Health Safety and Quality Engagement Guide focuses on participation by consumers and carers at a governance level. This is where people with a lived experience can have a significant influence on strategic decision-making and in promoting systemic changes in all aspects of mental health services.

The guide provides practical information about how consumers and carers can get engaged and how to navigate the process. It also provides information for health service leaders to provide a culturally appropriate, welcoming space for a diverse range of consumer and carer representatives in a positive partnering environment.

Safety for me is being able to talk about risks and things that scare me, but knowing I will have the power to decide what to do.

  • LIVED EXPERIENCE PERSPECTIVE

We acknowledge and thank everyone who has contributed to the development of this guide through sharing their experiences as part of the national consultation, and those who agreed to have their words included throughout the guide.

We acknowledge the support and guidance of the members of the Advisory Committee, the National Mental Health Consumer and Carer Forum and the Safety and Quality Partnership Standing Committee. We would also like to thank the writing team of Kirsty Baker, Dr Monika Ferguson, Dr Mark Loughhead and Professor Nicholas Procter from the Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Research Group, University of South Australia.

We encourage you to visit the website, designed to enhance the user experience and simplify access to relevant information.

Read more about the Fifth National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan

Safety and Quality Engagement Guide tip sheets

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Tags:
  • Consumer & carers
  • Lived experience
  • Stigma

Acknowledgement of Country

The Commission acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the lands and waters on which we live, work and learn.

Diversity

The Commission is committed to embracing diversity and eliminating all forms of discrimination in the provision of health services. The Commission welcomes all people irrespective of ethnicity, lifestyle choice, faith, sexual orientation and gender identity.

Lived Experience

We acknowledge the individual and collective contributions of those with a lived and living experience of mental ill-health and suicide, and those who love, have loved and care for them. Each person’s journey is unique and a valued contribution to Australia’s commitment to mental health suicide prevention systems reform.