Laura Van Tosh

The meaningful inclusion of people with lived experience (PWLE) in mental health policy, service provision, and advocacy is critical to driving systemic change. This session will explore how empowerment, mentorship, and capacity-building initiatives enable PWLE to transition from being solely service users to becoming service providers, leaders, and advocates in the mental health sector.

Through the Global Mental Health Peer Network’s (GMHPN) innovative approaches, including structured mentorship programs and leadership development, PWLE are actively shaping policies, delivering services, and influencing decision-making processes. The session will highlight GMHPN’s remuneration framework, which upholds the principle of "Equal Pay for Work of Equal Value," ensuring that PWLE are fairly compensated for their expertise. Through meaningful inclusion and economic empowerment, this approach challenges traditional power dynamics, reduces stigma, and establishes best practices in co-production and lived experience integration.