A statement from the people with lived experience of mental health issues present at the 2016 World Federation for Mental Health International Conference 2016, Cairns, Australia. A number of people who identify as persons living with mental health issues are in attendance and have agreed on a statement to those assembled regarding our interests and contributions.

First we must congratulate the Dr. Edward Koch Foundation Organizing Committee in partnership with the World Federation for Mental Health on their successful effort in providing us with an informative and thought provoking conference.  We would like to specifically thank Dulcie Bird for her tireless dedication to the success of this conference.

It is important that we note the increased number of sessions presented by people with lived experience and/or addressing peer workers and recovery.  This is a good effort in moving toward raising awareness that recovery is possible for all people dealing with mental health issues.  This must continue and it will take a renewed emphasis on self-determination and people dealing with mental health issues need to be full partners with providers.  We are capable of living our lives, as shown by our still being alive, we need partnership in developing dreams and reaching those dreams.  In the process we deal with the behaviors that hold us back.

As we, the community that makes up the foundation of the WFMH work together for mental wellbeing for every human being in the world, we wish to offer the person with lived experience perspective.  As an integral part of this organization we request full partnership.  Here are our contributions to the efforts as full partners:

Redefining our framework:  Mental health issues in the 21^st Century must be framed in a social justice context and our human rights must be codified and enforced.  We must raise global awareness of mental health issues facing all people.  Forced treatment and coercion only serves to re-traumatize people who most likely are already dealing with complex trauma.  This is not treatment.

We propose that any WFMH event or emphasis that does not include the impact of trauma, terrorism, and torture does not fulfill the requirements of our mission and charge.

Additionally, we request that there be focused effort in reaching young people and raising the alarm of the wide use of neuroleptics on children.  These medications have significant effects on the human nervous system and we need to respect the developing nervous systems of our children.  Additionally, there is evidence that these medication cause chronicity, condemning young people to a lifetime of disabling side effects and related poverty, trauma, and loss.

We propose that WFMH prioritize and formalize the participation of those who are identified as consumer/users/survivors and systematically involve us in this unifying effort. Unity is not conformity; unity is collaborative partnership and cooperation towards those things we hold in common.

Visibility: visibility promotes the image and model of people living full lives in the face of experience of mental health problems.  We call on the WFMH to proudly lead by formally including positions for persons with personal experience at all levels of participation.  This means having specifically designated representation on the Board, active participation on organizing committees, being on the podium at the opening and closing sessions. This provides the visibility that clearly declares: “Recovery is Possible!”  As your colleagues we request that the World Consumer Advisory Subcommittee of WFMH be reinstated to ensure ongoing partnership and input of people with lived experience for the WFMH membership.

Access to holistic services: As a united WFMH we can make the difference in protecting human rights throughout the world.  We remind our fellow participants of the provisions of the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (2008).  This convention insists upon a social framework within which services are to be offered.  We are whole people and our lives have meaning within the full social and cultural framework in which we live.  This cultural framework must inform integrated care as endorsed by the WFMH community. Acknowledging that consumers/users/survivors require access to appropriate medical care is not the same as taking a holistic approach to care, including mind, body, spirit, and intellect. Wellbeing is the gestalt of all that it means to be a whole well human being and not just the sum of our parts. We are whole persons with full lives that exist in a social context. 

Recovery: the knowledge that recovery is possible, as evident by our lives, must be shared with every person that has ever been diagnosed with a mental illness, and with their care providers.  We acknowledge that many of our colleagues world wide and many of the entities providing services require support and education to fully incorporate a changed recovery paradigm into practice and policy.  We offer ourselves, our programs, and our expertise in the effort of training providers in recovery based models.  We ask that a recovery focus be modeled in the statements and activities and programs of the WFMH from now on.

We request that the Indian WFMH Congress Organizing Committee build on the foundation established by the World Federation for Mental Health International Conference 2016 foundation by including people with lived experience f mental health issues in all aspects of planning and workshop selections. We are pivotal in identifying services that enable others to gain recovery.

None of us are free unless we are all free!

We ask that you stand with us in solidarity for this statement.