Topic Tuesday // Tools for Advocacy // Tues 19th October, 7:00-8:30PM AEST

[BPDSurvivor]

Another thing @Daisydreamer , sounds like individual advocacy requires setting boundaries so each knows their role.

[Shaz51]

Yes @Daisydreamer Please 

We have gone forward soo well but yes to know when and what the next step to take to the next level  

[Former-Member]

Agree @Daisydreamer self-stigma is such a big barrier to self-advocacy. I know even when I was a very experienced advocate there was still some parts of my story I would not share, no matter what the setting: self advocacy - systemic advocacy - whatever. I just felt so much shame.

But it's kind of funny how hearing others advocate made me find the courage to tell my story and how I feel like I can now pay that forward and be that person for someone else.

Our stories and perspectives are so powerful and like @BPDSurvivor said earlier, we can make massive change! And even if we change the mind of one person that is also a huge win! 

[Daisydreamer]

So true, @BPDSurvivor. Empowerment is so core to recovery and by "doing with" instead of "doing for", we can provide space for the people we are supporting to share their voice 

[chibam]

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@Former-Member wrote:

Communicating out story and our mindset is difficult @chibam 

I approach things from quite a narrative and storytelling perspective when I advocate. I might use metaphors and song lyrcs and things that people already relate to or understand to try and communicate the ways my brain works differently.

It definitley takes getting creative and some practice.

For what's worth, I think you have a wonderful communication style. 

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Thanks, @Former-Member  (I assume that post was for me?) (Edit: Lol. When I started typing this reply, the tag for my name wasn't there. )

I try to communicate with these styles, too - particularly metaphores. But I guess what frustrates me is that I can never really know if I've communicated effectively for the recipients. Was I actually understood, or did they only read gobbledygook?

Often the final outcomes suggest that I wasn't. (e.g. an overall lingering principal that suicide is "the big, bad thing" that just be prevented at all costs)

[BPDSurvivor]

NanaStasia @Anastasia ,

Have you had experience of NDIS reviews facilitated by people with lived experience or is it usually just anyone?

[cloudcore]

Question 5. What are some top tips for systemic advocacy? @Daisydreamer 

For the community, what has worked for you?

[Shaz51]

Ohh I love that @Daisydreamer , @BPDSurvivor 

By doing with instead of doing for xx 

[BPDSurvivor]

@chibam , I use a lot of metaphors too. Thank God I have a good match of a psychologist who gets me. Others will look at me like I've got 3 heads LOL.

[Daisydreamer]

Question 5. What are some top tips for systemic advocacy?

Systemic advocacy can be really rewarding. In my experience, becoming a representative and building my systemic advocacy skills helped me to make meaning and purpose of my experience, and put these learnings into my role to help improve mental health services for others.

A key difference between self advocacy and systemic advocacy, is that systemic advocacy often means representing a wider group of people. For example, if you are the lived experience representative on a committee for a mental health service, you are the voice representing all people who come to that service. As such, there are some additional skills you might need to develop.