Learning from Mental Health Lived Experience and the Influence on Students’ Practice

ABSTRACT

This study explored how learning from mental health lived experience influenced Australian social work students’ practice during their first fieldwork placement. Involvement of mental health consumers in social work education is gaining momentum, yet little is known about how this type of learning informs students’ practice. Ten social work students participated in semistructured interviews and one focus group. Findings suggest that learning from lived experience promoted social work practice that honoured the expertise of mental health consumers and privileged personal recovery. Factors such as organisational culture and supervisor attitudes were found to mediate the students’ attempts to privilege lived experience.

本文研究了精神医疗生活体验对于首次田野实习的社会工作学生会有什么样的影响。越来越多的精神医疗消费者介入社会工作教育，但尚不知这类教育对学生的实践有何影响。十位社会工作学生参与了半固定访谈以及焦点组的活动。研究发现，生活体验式学习有益于社会工作实践，肯定了精神医疗消费者的知识，有益于个人的康复。诸如组织文化、监管者态度等因素也影响了学生对于生活体验的态度。

KEYWORDS:

• Mental Health
• Education
• Social Work Practice
• Mental Distress
• Lived Experience

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge and thank the social work students who participated in this study and shared their experiences so generously.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.