Being (Mental Health & Wellbeing Consumer Advisory Group) is the independent, state-wide peak organisation for people with a lived experience of mental illness. They work with consumers to influence legislation and policy where it affects the lives of mental health consumers. Being represents consumers by engaging in consumer consultation and participation in forums across NSW including in regional areas. They have a collaborative and responsive policy advocacy work is central to BEING’s work including writing submissions and providing input and advice to government and other organisations working in the sector. BEING also undertakes generalised advocacy including developing position statements and conducting issued-based campaigns and provides advice and expertise through participation and representation on numerous committees and expert reference groups. Being aims to
- Encourage mental health consumers to provide input into decision making at all levels concerning the way mental health services are provided.
- Gathers information and lobbies the decision makers about issues relevant to the mental health system
- Seeks to influence legislation and policy introduced by the government where it affects the lives of mental health consumers
- Keeps people informed of what is happening in the state through their Network
- Gather information through their interactive website, committees, consumer groups, forums and research about consumers’ experiences of mental health services; and
- Help produce the evidence needed to lobby for changes to legislation and policy.
BEING is governed by a Board of Trustees, who set the organisation’s strategic vision and monitors the progress of strategic goals.Trustees are elected for a term of three years, with vacant positions being elected by our membership at our AGM. At least 75% of our Board must have a lived/living experience of mental health issues. All positions on the Board are voluntary and unpaid.
BEING Supported – Mental Health Peer Support Line is a warm line service staffed by trained and experienced Peer Support Specialists all with their own lived experience of mental health issues. If you are feeling isolated, lonely, depressed and/or anxious or simply want someone to talk to, we are here to listen with empathy and without judgement. From the moment you call our BEING Supported warmline, you will be greeted by one of our friendly Peer Support Specialists who will provide support, information or referrals in an empathic and non-judgemental way.
Country
Australia
Being regularly visits towns across the NSW to hear about the experiences of people who use mental health services. This information is used to inform the government about what needs to be done to provide better support and services for people with mental illness in NSW. The consultations are run quite informally, and provide mental health consumers with an opportunity to have their say about the mental health system – what they do and don’t like about the system, and what they think needs to change to ensure that all consumers experience equality in accessing services. Occasionally we will also host consultations which focus on specific issues, which will then influence BEING’s advocacy work.
Country
Australia
BEING works with consumers to speak at events and to educate others about consumer issues and experiences. Being support consumers to speak in a variety of places including NSW Parliament, GP training workshops, a national conference on the NDIS and a forum held by the NSW Ministry of Health of restraint and restrictive practices.
The Annual Consumer Workers Forum is an annual event that brings together the NSW’ Consumer Workers. The Forum is held in November each year to support the professional development of the NSW Consumer Workforce.
Mental Health Month is a number of events and opportunities as part of the Mental Health Month Celebrations. Mental Health Month is held in October each year in NSW.
Recovery in Art is an exhibition hosted annually by BEING that aims to engage the community, and promote the skills and abilities of artists with a lived experience of mental illness. The exhibition is a celebration of both the artistic expression of mental health consumers, as well as the positive role art has played in many people’s mental health recovery.
The Recovery Oriented Service Self-Assessment Toolkit (ROSSAT) is a recovery oriented service provision quality improvement resource for mental health services. It has been designed to assist organisations and workers to:
- Assess their level of recovery oriented service provision
- Reflect on both individual and organisational practice in relation to recovery oriented service provision
- Identify and work on areas requiring improved practice in the delivery of recovery oriented services.
The Lived Experience Ideas Exchange is a new BEING event is an event that brings together consumer advocates, policy makers and service providers in the mental health sector to network, share information on new initiatives, and discuss opportunities for collaboration. The day included a mix of presentations and workshops, covering a diversity of initiatives, many of which were consumer-driven and led.
The Recovery Conference is an annual state-wide event run by BEING. It is an opportunity for people with lived experience of mental illness to share skills and learn from consumer advocates and to create change in their community.
The Your Experience of Service (YES) questionnaire is replacing MH-CoPES as the data collection method for consumer feedback in New South Wales public health services. This questionnaire is designed to gather information from consumers about their experience of mental health services.
Contact Person / Email
INFORMH@health.nsw.gov.au
Organisation
Address: 108 Cathedral St, Woolloomooloo, 2011.
Country: Australia
Email: info@being.org.au
