Holistic and person-centred nursing care is commonly regarded as fundamental to nursing practice. These approaches are complementary to recovery which is rapidly becoming the preferred mode of practice within mental health. The willingness and ability of nurses to adopt recovery-oriented practice is essential to services realizing recovery goals. Involving consumers (referred herein as Experts by Experience) in mental health nursing education has demonstrated positive impact on the skills and attitudes of nursing students. A qualitative exploratory research project was undertaken to examine the perspectives of undergraduate nursing students to Expert by Experience-led teaching as part of a co-produced learning module developed through an international study. Focus groups were held with students at each site. Data were analysed thematically. Understanding the person behind the diagnosis was a major theme, including subthemes: person-centred care/seeing the whole person; getting to know the person, understanding, listening; and challenging the medical model, embracing recovery. Participants described recognizing consumers as far more than their psychiatric diagnoses, and the importance of person-centred care and recovery-oriented practice. Understanding the individuality of consumers, their needs and goals, is crucial in mental health and all areas of nursing practice. These findings suggest that recovery, taught by Experts by Experience, is effective and impactful on students' approach to practice. Further research addressing the impact of Experts by Experience is crucial to enhance our understanding of ways to facilitate the development of recovery-oriented practice in mental health and holistic and person-centred practice in all areas of health care.KEY WORDS: co-production of mental health nursing education, consumer academic, education of health professionals, mental health, mental health nursing, recovery.

Accessible Summary What is known on the subject? Consumer participation in mental health services is embedded in mental health policy in many countries. The negative attitudes of nurses and other health professionals to consumer participation poses a significant obstacle to this policy goal Involving mental health “Experts by Experience” in the education of nursing students demonstrates positive attitudinal change What this paper adds to existing knowledge? More detailed understanding of nursing students’ experiences and perspectives about being taught mental health nursing by “Experts by Experience” An international focus, extending understandings about how Experts by Experience might be perceived in a broader range of countries What are the implications for practice? Positive attitudes towards people labelled with mental illness are essential for quality nursing practice Nurses have an important leadership role in facilitating consumer participation within health services. It is critical that their attitudes are professional and optimistic. Abstract IntroductionConsumer participation is central to mental health policy. Negative attitudes of health professionals are barriers to realizing policy goals. Evidence suggests consumers (Experts by Experience) can influence positive attitudes in nursing students. Research in this area to date is limited and primarily from Australia and New Zealand. AimTo enhance understanding of nursing students’ perspectives and experiences of being taught mental health by an Expert by Experience. MethodA qualitative exploratory approach was used. Focus groups were conducted with nursing students from seven universities in Australia and Europe. Data were analysed thematically. ResultsStudent participants described how exposure to Experts by Experience challenged their views and attitudes and provided a mechanism for reflection, critique and change. The main theme “changing mindset” includes two subthemes: exposing stereotypes and reflection. DiscussionThis unique international study demonstrates the capacity for Experts by Experience to contribute to positive attitudinal change towards mental illness in nursing students. This changed mindset must occur for policy goals to be realized. Implications for practiceNurses in all areas of practice will work with people labelled with mental illness and experiencing mental distress. Overcoming stereotypes and adopting more positive attitudes is essential to deliver quality mental health care.

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Accessible Summary What is known on the subject ●Expert by Experience participation in mental health services is embedded in mental health policy in many countries. The negative attitudes of nurses and other health professionals to consumer participation poses a significant obstacle to this policy goal. ●Involving mental health Experts by Experience in the education of nursing students demonstrates positive attitudinal change. What the paper adds to existing knowledge ●The paper presents perspectives from Experts by Experience about the unique knowledge and expertise they derive from their lived experience of mental distress and mental health service use. As a result, they can make a unique and essential contribution to mental health nursing education. They utilize this knowledge to create an interactive learning environment and encourage critical thinking. ●The international focus of this research enriches understandings about how Experts by Experience might be perceived in a broader range of countries. What are the implications for practice ●Mental health policy articulates the importance of service user involvement in all aspects of mental health service delivery. This goal will not be fully achieved without nurses having positive attitudes towards experts by experience as colleagues. ●Positive attitudes are more likely to develop when nurses understand and value the contribution experts by experience bring by virtue of their unique knowledge and expertise. This paper provides some important insights to achieving this end. Abstract IntroductionEmbedding lived experience in mental health nursing education is increasing, with research findings suggesting the impact is positive. To date, research has primarily targeted the perspectives of nursing students and academics from the health professions. AimTo enhance understanding of the unique knowledge and expertise experts by experience contribute to mental health nursing education. MethodsQualitative exploratory research methods were employed. In‐depth individual interviews were conducted with experts by experience who delivered a coproduced learning module to nursing students in Europe and Australia. ResultsParticipants described their unique and essential contribution to mental health nursing education under four main themes: critical thinking, beyond textbooks; interactive and open communication; understanding personal recovery; and mental health is health. ConclusionsThese findings present an understanding of the unique knowledge and expertise Experts by Experience contribute to mental health education not previously addressed in the literature. Appreciating and respecting this, unique contribute is necessary as Expert by Experience contributions continue to develop. Implications for PracticeMental health services purport to value service user involvement. Identifying and respecting and valuing the unique contribution they bring to services is essential. Without this understanding, tokenistic involvement may become a major barrier.

Introduction: Consumer-led and collaborative research is consistent with occupational therapy principles of inclusion and clientcentredness, and is increasingly valued in mental health. Our research team of three occupational therapists and three consumers was funded to conduct a consumer-led mental health service evaluation. Because of a lack of previous research to guide our practice, we engaged in a collaborative autoethnography to gather information about the process of consumer-led research. We discovered that the systematic reflective processes of collaborative autoethnography played a critical part in shaping the very experiences being investigated. This article describes the impact of using this systematic collaborative reflection on the process of consumer-led research. Method: Data from weekly journal entries and quarterly focus groups were analysed using constant comparative analysis. Codes relating to experiences and impacts of the collaborative autoethnography were extracted for presentation in this article. Findings: Our collaborative autoethnography activities provided unique opportunities that developed our shared understanding of consumer-led research in mental health, facilitated a respectful and open group culture and, ultimately, resulted in a more consumer-led research project. Conclusion: Occupational therapists striving to include and empower service users in research and evaluation could benefit from adopting systematic collaborative, reflective techniques.

This paper uses secondary analysis to understand how COVID-19 shaped people’s experiences with psychosocial support services in Australia. Data are drawn from questionnaires (n = 66) and semi-structured interviews (n = 62), conducted for a national service evaluation, with 121 people living with enduring mental health conditions and using psychosocial support services. Data relating to COVID-19 were inductively coded and analysed using constant comparative analysis. Most people’s experiences included tele-support. While some people described minimal disruption to their support, many reported reduced engagement. People’s wellbeing and engagement were influenced by: their location, living situation and pre-COVID lifestyles; physical health conditions; access to, comfort with, and support worker facilitation of technology; pre-COVID relationships with support workers; and communication from the organisation. The findings can help services prepare for future pandemics, adjust their services for a ‘COVID-normal’ world, and consider how learnings from COVID-19 could be incorporated into a flexible suite of service delivery options.

Background: Recovery oriented service provisions means focusing on outcomes that are important to consumers themselves rather than to clinicians or services. Partners in Recovery (PIR) is an Australia-wide initiative designed to provide service coordination and brokerage for individuals with severe and persistent mental illness. One PIR service engaged a consumer-led research team to evaluate the service from the perspective of consumers. This consumer-led study was established to explore PIR consumers' perceptions of outcomes they achieved through their involvement with PIR. Methods: Data were collected through semi-structured interviews exploring participants' views about and experiences with PIR. Data analysis occurred simultaneously with data collection using constant comparative analysis. Results: Twenty consumers participated. They reported experiencing valued outcomes in six domains: feeling supported; feeling more hopeful and positive about the future; improved mental clarity, focus and order in life; getting out of the house and engaging in positive activity; having a better social life; and improved physical health. Conclusions: Exploring outcomes achieved by PIR consumers, from their own perspective provides a nuanced understanding of the contribution these programs can have in supporting individuals' recovery. Findings from this study highlight the kinds of outcomes consumers achieve when engaged with service coordination and brokerage services. Findings also suggest that outcome measures used in these types of services should focus on recovery outcomes as well as met and unmet needs.

Purpose: To examine nursing students' perceptions of Experts by Experience impact on theoretical and practical learning.