Experts by experience tackling workplace mental health stigma

Area of Work: The ALLIANCE
Type: News Item
Published: 23rd August 2023

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New Self Management Fund case study documents project building resilience in volunteers and workplaces across Dundee.

A new video case study, produced by the ALLIANCE, captures the impact of the Mental Wealth Academy in combating mental health stigma in the workplace and building awareness of self management. This innovative initiative, funded by the Self Management Fund, spotlights the profound influence of “Experts By Experience” in transforming perceptions and dialogues around mental health in workplaces.

Facilitated through Dundee Volunteer & Voluntary Action, the Mental Wealth Academy is a collaborative initiative driven by individuals passionate about changing the culture of mental health discourse and addressing stigma. “We’re normal people, not professionals, but we do have a lot of lived experience,” remarks one of the volunteers. It is this unique perspective which encourages open conversations, enabling improved understanding and support for individuals facing mental health challenges.

The case study brings to light the Academy’s focus on workplaces, specifically managers, equipping them with tools to foster a culture of wellbeing. By nurturing an environment of acceptance and understanding, the Mental Wealth Academy seeks to normalise conversations around mental health, resilience and self management.

“Projects like the Mental Wealth Academy are an excellent example of individuals being experts by experience.” says ALLIANCE Associate Director, Margaret Reid Arbuckle. “Emphasising the value they bring to organisations. By becoming trainers themselves, participants lead their own wellbeing while supporting others. This ripple effect showcases that individual self management positively impacts the broader community.’

Watch the full case study via the ALLIANCE YouTube channel:

The Self Management Fund’s integral role in nurturing projects like the Mental Wealth Academy is underscored in the case study. The fund was established in response to Gaun Yersel, the Self Management Strategy for Scotland. It actively supports the growth of co-produced, person-centred, self-management activities throughout Scotland. Since its inception in 2009, the ALLIANCE has allocated over £24 million to fund 398 projects, affirming its commitment to learning from the experiences of individuals with long-term conditions and their unpaid carers.

Find out more information on the Self Management Fund.

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