Lived experience in mental health brings invaluable insights to policy and legal reform, ensuring that these frameworks are inclusive, and effective. It emphasizes on authentic representation, integrating lived voices of those affected directly into decision-making processes. Key focus areas addressing stigma, strengthening rights , advance directive, regulatory bodies under mental health laws (e.g., Mental Health Care Act 2017), and promoting mental health as a human rights issue.
Advocating for community-based services, aligning with international conventions like UNCRPD, and ensuring intersectional inclusivity are critical. This approach builds evidence-based, empathetic systems that prioritize the dignity and rights of individuals with mental health challenges.
The lived experience accommodation in laws and policies are for the rights based mental health care system.