Storytelling and beyond : integrating lived experience into mental health and addiction health education : a thesis presented in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Health Science at Massey University, Manawatu, New Zealand
The overseas literature emphasises the importance of lived experience of mental health and addiction being integrated into the education of health professionals. It is also clear that existing mental health and addiction education programmes do not adequately meet the content requirements for integration of lived experience into mental health and addiction health curriculum. Drawing core themes from the existing literature, semi-structured interviews were undertaken with a cross-sectional of participants, being those with lived experience of mental distress and/or addiction who work in the mental health and addiction sector, and representatives of organisations who are involved in mental health and addiction education and workforce development. The research methodology was thematic analysis, supported by a phenomenological theoretical position. The study found that currently there is limited integration of lived experience across mental health and addiction health curriculum in Aotearoa New Zealand. Contributing to this are differing attitudes held by mental health and addiction education providers towards lived experience, some of which constitute a barrier for change. The study also found value to student understanding of mental distress and addiction by integrating lived experience into mental health and addiction health education and that this is optimised when taught by people from the lived experience community. Deeper understanding of lived experience could also be achieved by introducing lived experience principles into mental health and addiction education. If lived experience is to coexist in mental health and addiction education it will require acceptance and recognition by mental health and addiction education providers and equal participation of the lived experience community in the design, development, and delivery of lived experience content. Recommendations to assist with the integration of lived experience into mental health and addiction education have been made within the thesis.
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