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The service-user movement encompasses a variety of individuals who have an array of experiences and identities. Although the movement began as a way of collectively resisting oppressive psychiatric practices, it has since evolved into something much broader. This includes the legitimisation of survivor knowledge as a distinctive epistemology, not merely in opposition to dominant discourses of psychiatry but as a unique discipline.

You may have lived experience of mental health difficulties yourself. Learning how to use these in a therapeutic context can be of enormous value. Taking time to understand your own distress is an essential part of becoming a skilled helper. As this chapter maintains, it is only by speaking out about our mental distress that we can begin to break down some of the social stigma attached to mental health issues.

It is important to understand the contexts and struggles endured by many people who have been through the mental health system. It is important that practitioners engage with service-users’/survivors’ experiences, including by taking an active interest in current mental health activism. This improves practitioners’ skills, making them more attuned to their clients’ needs and, ultimately, more effective in their work.