How Anna found her passion by using her lived experiences to create positive change - World Mental Health Day.
World Mental Health Day is on the 10th of October. The theme this year is ‘Lived experiences heard: real voices, real change’. It is so important for us to talk openly about our experiences and actively listen to other people’s experiences. People sharing their lived experiences openly is what creates real change and lets others know that they are not alone. |  |
My name is Anna Morton, I am 21 years old and I have struggled with my mental health my whole life, I live with mental illness and I am neurodivergent. My mental health struggles have affected every area of my life, such as my ability to leave my own home, everyday self-care and my education. This World Mental Health Day, I want to speak about how using my lived experiences to create positive change, has kept me going in my worst times and has become my core passion.
When I was 16 years old, my mental health struggles meant I could no longer be in an educational setting. I was too anxious and unwell to go into school and was basically housebound. I felt completely lost and I had no idea what direction my life would go in. I then joined my first two youth voice spaces: Cheshire East Youth Council and the Cheshire East SEND Youth Forum (called Jigsaw) and I started going to weekly virtual meetings.
“This opened up a world to me that I didn’t even know existed and it saved my life.”
This opened up a world to me that I didn’t even know existed and it saved my life. Five and a half years later, I am still a member of both of my first two groups and I am now a member of many more youth voice spaces (including the NHS England Youth Forum, being an Expert By Experience for my local NHS Foundation Trust, being on the Youth Advisory Board for Cards For Bravery, and more). I can say with my hand on my heart that I found my true passion.
Within these networks, I have used my lived experiences to shape many campaigns, projects and services, delivered speeches about my lived experiences, shared my experiences with many senior professionals and much more. I have worked on many different issues and topics but I’m particularly passionate about mental health including: stopping stigma and stereotypes, letting people know that they are not alone, that open conversations save lives and sharing my experiences of accessing mental health services to improve mental health services and support.
“Open conversations save lives”
One of my core beliefs within mental health is that positive connections are important for good mental health. All of these spaces have given me that. The people who I have met within these spaces, who I have become so close to, are such an important part of my wellbeing. This is why connection is also so crucial for good mental health.
“We are the experts in our own experiences.”
We are the experts in our own experiences. This is why it is so crucial to listen to those who have lived experience when shaping services, creating campaigns and discussing issues.
If you are a young person who is passionate about using your lived experience to create positive change, I would recommend looking into joining your local youth council, youth forums or youth advisory boards. It opened up a whole world for me.
Need support?
|
Comments