More Than One Voice: Strengthening Organizational Readiness for Lived Experience Integration in Early Psychosis Services

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Abstract
Knowledge derived from personal experience of mental health service use, by way of individuals with lived and living experience, is increasingly incorporated into mental health programs. Yet organizational readiness to support meaningful integration often lags behind intent. This paper offers a case analysis of the first 2 years of a Lived Experience Integration (LEI) Team embedded within a statewide early psychosis training and technical assistance network. Using Organizational Readiness for Change as a conceptual framework, this paper describes how leadership from people with lived experience contributed to training development, consultation, advisory structures, and workforce design, while navigating evolving infrastructure and the relational and interpretive demands of lived experience roles. Practical lessons are highlighted for building readiness to support durable lived experience integration in complex service systems. Lived Experience or Public Contribution: This manuscript describes work that was initiated and led with substantial involvement from individuals with lived experience of psychosis‐spectrum conditions and mental health service use. Lived experience‐identified contributors built the LEI Team under discussion, participated in consultation and training activities, advised on organizational tensions described in this case analysis, and were fully responsible for the conceptualization and writing of this manuscript.
Funding Information
  • National Institute of Mental Health (1R01MH120555‐01)
  • One Mind

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