MHM Magazine

Issue 3 | 2023 | MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS | 27 MHM Ms Claudia Sartor Deputy CEO: Global Mental Health Peer Network Email: claudia.sartor@gmhpn.org The Global Mental Health Peer Network (GMHPN) is an international lived experience organisation, based in South Africa. The organisation's work is primarily focused on empowering persons with lived experience and advancing global lived experience leadership in mental health. It mobilises its efforts through capacity building, peer led activities and through a mentorship programme encouraging open dialogue on important mental health topics and further emphasising lived experience empowerment. Definition of Lived Experience The GMHPN regards “lived experience’ as being an experience, personal in nature, through which the individual has or has had experience of symptoms of a mental health condition and for which care and treatment has been sought. Treatment is however not limited to clinical care and extends to psychosocial assistance, therapy, and other forms of non-medical services. Through years of work and collective efforts from advocacy groups, including persons with lived experience, there is worldwide established consensus on the importance and value of lived experience expertise in the domain of global mental health. The report of the Lancet Commission on Ending Stigma and Discrimination in mental health, launched in 2022 presents key findings that state persons with lived experience ought to be leading and/or co-leading on anti-stigma programmes for advancing change in the status quo of mental health across the world. There is strong global recognition that mental health related discussion ought to be inclusive of people with lived experience of a mental health condition as they have rich experiential value and perspectives to share. Why GMHPN was established With a purpose to create a safe space for dialogue, advocacy, engagement, leadership and mentorship and support, GMHPN has become recognised as a leading example of an organisation exhibiting best practice as it pertains the role of persons with lived experience in mental health. It provides a platform for recognition of the value of persons with lived experience worldwide. Member profile The GMHPN has a global footprint across Africa, Europe, South East Asia, Western Pacific, Eastern Mediterranean and the Americas region; covering the six listed World Health Organisation regions. Its members come from different backgrounds and hold diverse cultural belief systems, thereby broadening our level of expertise. While they join us a volunteer, we provide themwith access to a platform that offers opportunities for growth and development as leaders in mental health advocacy. To date, the GMHPN is represented largely by females and youth and a large representation is throughout THE GLOBAL MENTAL HEALTH PEER NETWORK: A BEST PRACTICE MODEL FOR GLOBAL MENTAL HEALTH LIVED EXPERIENCE LEADERSHIP