Our Lived Experience courses explore people’s experiences of living with certain
conditions, disabilities or difficulties. Most importantly, the courses encourage shared
learning from people’s lived experience, and professional expertise, so that you can gain
a better understanding and learn ways to either support your own recovery journey or
support others in theirs.
“People who have bipolar disorder experience extreme swings in mood – from periods of overactive, excited behaviour – known as ‘mania’ or ‘manic episodes’ – to deep depression. Between these severe highs and lows, people may have stable times.” (Mind)
“Eating disorders aren’t just about food and eating. They are about difficult problems and painful feelings, which you may be finding hard to express, face or resolve. Focusing on food is a way of disguising these problems, even from yourself.” (Mind)
Hearing a voice when no-one is present with you, or which other people with you cannot hear, is considered to be a hallucination. This does not make it abnormal it’s just a word for a perception you may have that is not shared by those around you. You may also see things that others cant […]
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder characterised by frequent unwanted, uninvited and intrusive thoughts, images, urges, impulses and doubts which cause marked and significant distress. They are accompanied by compulsive and ritualistic behaviours which act to reduce the distress.
“People who have a personality disorder, may find that their beliefs and attitudes are different from others. Their patterns of thinking, feeling and behaving are more difficult to change and they will have a more limited range of emotions, attitudes and behaviours with which to cope with everyday life. This can make things difficult for […]
If you are involved in or witness a traumatic event, it is common to experience upsetting, distressing or confusing feelings afterwards. The feelings of distress may not emerge straight away – you may just feel emotionally numb at first. After a while you may develop emotional and physical reactions, such as feeling easily upset or […]
“Self-harm is a way of expressing very deep distress. Often people don’t know why they self-harm.” (Mind)
“Starting a family is a milestone in many people’s lives. It can also be a stressful time and many parents experience mental ill health. The most common mental health problems experienced during pregnancy and after birth are anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), however some women can experience more severe symptoms such as postpartum […]
There are approximately 8.7 million people in the UK with a hearing loss, which is approximately 1 in 7 people, so the likelihood of you meeting a deaf or hard of hearing person in your workplace or local community is high.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, intersex, and people of other minorities, like anyone, will experience mental health challenges and distress during their lifetime. However, the evidence both from the UK and internationally highlights increased levels of common mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety and stress among people from these groups.
