As users of the services, mental health consumers, their families and carers have a lot of valuable information to share on improvements that can be made to mental health services, including:
The process of sharing this information with health services is called participation. Participation also refers to the process of engaging consumers, and their families and carers, in decision-making about their own care or that of the person they are caring for.
There are many community managed organisations (CMOs) that support participation from consumers and their families and carers. See Mental health organisations and advisory groups.
Peer workers - also called consumer workers - are employees of NSW Health who have a lived experience of mental health issues and provide peer support and advocacy to consumers. Peer workers are employed in various roles in local health districts and speciality health networks throughout NSW. Read more about peer workers.
Community Gatekeepers are members of the community who have been trained to identify and reach out to people experiencing suicidal thinking or behaviours.
The NSW and Australian Governments want to ensure that consumer and community participation of your health matters continues through sharing information and making decisions together. See Government partners in your health for information about: