We need more diversity and nuance in public accounts of psychosis treatment

ABSTRACT

People with lived experience of psychosis now have more access than ever to share their own stories and learn about others’ via social media and public health campaigns. However, lived experience accounts that deal with race-based bias and inequity, ambivalent attitudes toward the biomedical illness model, or negative or harmful experiences of treatment remain less visible. Such accounts may help many who are experiencing psychosis to locate themselves in the narratives of others and access insights about recovery and navigating treatment which are currently absent. Future efforts to uplift diverse accounts of lived experience should involve people with lived experience as formal collaborators, make room for discussion of the shortcomings of treatment, and prioritize especially marginalized voices and perspectives.

KEYWORDS:

• Psychosis
• lived experience
• narratives
• diversity

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was funded in part by the State of Connecticut, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, but this publication does not express the views of the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services or the State of Connecticut. The views and opinions expressed are those of the authors.