LELAN | Lived Experience Leadership & Advocacy Network

[RECOGNITION FOR LELAN & ALT2SU]: On Saturday night LELAN was recognised at the Adelaide PHN Health Equity Awards for our work over many years in the suicide distress and crisis space. Health equity is about 'reducing unnecessary and avoidable differences that are unfair and unjust'. LELAN's work fundamentally, and particularly in relation to suicide and Alt2Su, is focused here. Validation of what we have achieved is good, yet we know there is still so much to do; including securing ongoing investment in approaches for thinking about and responding to suicide differently. That is a health equity issue in itself. MEGA thanks to everyone that has attended, facilitated, organised and been behind the scenes to make this a reality in South Australia. Thanks also to our other partners Preventive Health SA and Country SA PHN. It has made, and will continue to make, a difference. You can read more about the awards and other winners over at https://lnkd.in/e6QNPNVG . #AdelaidePHN #HealthEquityAwards2024

[JOB OPPORTUNITY]: The National Mental Health Consumer Alliance are seeking their first CEO. Applications close Friday August 23rd. The Alliance was recently awarded national peak body status to undertake systemic advocacy and representation informed by, and on behalf of, mental health consumers, ensuring that their voices are heard to collectively shape the policies, services, programs and systems that affect them. In this key leadership role in the lived experience consumer and mental health sector in Australia, the CEO of the National Mental Health Consumer Alliance (Alliance) will use their lived experience and knowledge of the consumer movement to create positive change for mental health consumers nationwide. Applications accepted from all parts of Australia, with flexible working arrangements and ability to work from home and various State/Territory office locations. Read the full role description and how to apply through the link below.

[IN-PERSON & ONLINE EVENT TOMORROW]: The Mental Health Commission of NSW and the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) are hosting a discussion on the practical applications of safely deprescribing psychotropic medicine. Dr. Mark Horowitz Author of the Guidelines will join guest speakers Professor Katharine Wallis and Dr Karen Spielman in a discussion facilitated by Dr Rebekah Hoffman on why, when and how to stop antidepressants, the risks of stopping too quickly and safe tapering principles adjusted to the individual patient. Follow the link below for more information and to register.

[LELAN PARTNERSHIP]: We are proud to be working intensively with the Queensland Mental Health Commission to enhance their capability and capacity for embedding lived experience across their projects, operations, strategy and commissioning. The development of a Charter for Powerful Partnering is one key component that you can learn more about by joining this webinar on Thursday August 1st. If you are in Qld or have networks that extend there, please help us spread the word.

[INVOLVEMENT OPPORTUNITY]: When people experience family/domestic violence, sexual violence, or child sexual abuse, their GP can play a crucial role in helping them access support. In South Australia, a Pilot has been funded to build a model for improving this care that will run from July 2024 to June 2026.    LELAN is being supported to convene the Panel to shape and co-design how responses to victim-survivor disclosures and links to additional support can be enhanced and expanded through this model. Current known activities for the Panel:  - In-person orientation Wednesday August 14th (Adelaide CBD). - Regular online Panel meetings (every second month Jul-Dec24 and quarterly Jan25-Jun26). Additional co-design activities that the Panel may contribute to if interested and available: - In-person co-design session on Wednesday August 21st (Adelaide CBD). - Up to three further online co-design sessions ending Nov24. If you wish to get involved you can read more and complete the Expression of Interest at: https://lnkd.in/gMyRbMR5 . Expressions of Interest close 5pm Wednesday July 24th. For confidential enquiries or to verbally express interest please contact Jess Nitschke via [email protected] or 0431 953 526.

[Survey Opportunity] Suicide Prevention Australia are inviting individuals and organisations to contribute to a State of the Nation survey. The survey will provide a snapshot of the state of suicide prevention in Australia. Get Involved: https://lnkd.in/guZqG_at

[INVOLVEMENT OPPORTUNITY]: When people experience family/domestic violence, sexual violence, or child sexual abuse, their GP can play a crucial role in helping them access support. In South Australia, a Pilot has been funded to build a model for improving this care that will run from July 2024 to June 2026.    LELAN is being supported to convene the Panel to shape and co-design how responses to victim-survivor disclosures and links to additional support can be enhanced and expanded through this model. Current known activities for the Panel:  - In-person orientation Wednesday August 14th (Adelaide CBD). - Regular online Panel meetings (every second month Jul-Dec24 and quarterly Jan25-Jun26). Additional co-design activities that the Panel may contribute to if interested and available: - In-person co-design session on Wednesday August 21st (Adelaide CBD). - Up to three further online co-design sessions ending Nov24. If you wish to get involved you can read more and complete the Expression of Interest at: https://lnkd.in/gMyRbMR5 . Expressions of Interest close 5pm Wednesday July 24th. For confidential enquiries or to verbally express interest please contact Jess Nitschke via [email protected] or 0431 953 526.

[ONLINE THINKTANK]: Anti-depressant deprescribing and withdrawal is an issue that people with lived experience have borne the brunt of for years. It is only now, through concerted efforts of people with direct experience themselves and allies, that evidence and broader interest is starting to be paid to this critical issue. LELAN is commited to ensuring people with lived experience are centred or leading these conversations and related advocacy efforts in Australia. In seeking to activate people from the grassroots individual experience level through to collective systemic focused action we know that understanding the perspectives of clinicians, academics and interested others will help us to shape the messages and recommendations for how we best proceed strategically. This ThinkTank is for clinicians, academics and other people interested in contributing to deprescribing protocol advocacy efforts in Australia to raise awareness, contribute to messaging and begin to influence broader change. More information and registration can be accessed at https://lnkd.in/g3cWnqFX .

[JOIN OUR TEAM]: We are recruiting to a 0.8FTE Peer Project Worker - Peer Led Alternatives role at LELAN. Applications close Tuesday July 23rd at 5pm ACST. The Peer Project Worker - Peer Led Alternatives will coordinate LELAN’s work to embed ‘Alternatives to Suicide’ peer groups and other peer led alternatives across South Australia and assist in the development of a sustainable business model to ensure the continuation alternative approaches to distress. The Peer Project Worker - Peer Led Alternatives will play a lead role supporting the running of Alternatives to Suicide groups as well as liaising with the lived experience community, organisations and partners to build capacity and opportunity for lived experience-led initiatives to grow throughout SA. This role requires a personal lived experience of suicide distress, thoughts, or experiences. To apply, or view the Position Description visit: https://lnkd.in/grisXTym Further enquiries can be made by contacting Brett Williams, General Manager – Operations via 0436 437 000 or [email protected] . Additional information about LELAN can be accessed at www.lelan.org.au .

[INSIGHTS THAT INFORM OUR WORK]: This is what one lived experience leader shared about their experience of leadership during the Activating Lived Experience Leadership (ALEL) Project.     ALEL was a partnership between LELAN and the University of South Australia's Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Research and Education Group 2019-2021.