Clinicians with lived experience of mental illness: Introduction to a special section on prosumers, in honor of the late Dr. Fredrick J. Frese III.

Abstract

This article is an introduction to a special section on mental health clinicians with a personal lived experience of mental illness (aka 'prosumers') dedicated to the late Dr. Frederick J. Frese III. This introduction provides information on Dr. Frese who was a prosumer and advocate for those with a mental illness. This introduction also provides information on each of the 15 articles in this special section. The section has both empirical articles and personal narratives. It is our desire that the articles will be informative and inspire readers to combat the stigma associated with mental illness. Impact StatementProsumers experience bullying and stigma. Yet they can offer unique strengths to clients and to the research process. This introduction introduces empirical and narrative articles as part of a special section on prosumers.

Embedding lived experience into mental health academic research organizations: Critical reflections

“…Viewed dimensionally, mental illness includes common as well as rarer mental disorders and mental health conditions, with experiences ranging from mild to severe. While some people with mental illness live with severe disabilities that prevent certain typically recognized achievements, others have been successful in obtaining academic qualifications and research career success 6,7 . Since personal meaning often guides career decisions, 8 it is natural that people with lived experience may be drawn to the helping sciences, including research; conversely, high demands within academia may lead to the emergence of symptoms.…”

“…High rates of depression, anxiety, distress and suicide among populations like physicians and graduate students demonstrate that lived experience is among us, whether outwardly acknowledged or not 9,10 . Through personal disclosure publications, an increasing number of academic researchers have been acknowledging their lived experience and sharing their journeys 6,7,11–15 …”

“…9,10 Through personal disclosure publications, an increasing number of academic researchers have been acknowledging their lived experience and sharing their journeys. 6,7,[11][12][13][14][15] When lived experience is fully recognized within mental health research spheres, an opportunity is afforded to pair POR approaches with the recognition of lived expertise at all levels of research, including research leadership, to generate research guided by lived experience. Indeed, there have been calls for the explicit engagement of lived experience among academic researchers and examples of success, 6,7,13,[16][17][18] including in dedicated lived experience roles and in traditional research roles to which researchers may bring their lived experience.…”

“…While some people with mental illness live with severe disabilities that prevent certain typically recognized achievements, others have been successful in obtaining academic qualifications and research career success. 6 , 7 Since personal meaning often guides career decisions, 8 it is natural that people with lived experience may be drawn to the helping sciences, including research; conversely, high demands within academia may lead to the emergence of symptoms. High rates of depression, anxiety, distress and suicide among populations like physicians and graduate students demonstrate that lived experience is among us, whether outwardly acknowledged or not.…”

“… 9 , 10 Through personal disclosure publications, an increasing number of academic researchers have been acknowledging their lived experience and sharing their journeys. 6 , 7 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 …”