The lived experience of mental illness

In recent years, there has been an explosion of accounts of the lived experience of mental illness; that is, views from the inside looking out. Poetry, prose, drama and art tell of suffering, alienation and shame, as well as hopefulness, humour and dignity. Mental illness may be described from a variety of viewpoints, based on experience, opinion and understanding. Consumers, families, friends and other social groups have their own lived experiences that inform their viewing points and positionality. This chapter elucidates a lived experience ethic of practice that is both relational and contextual. Philosophical constructions about the nature and worth of each life, and related issues such as free will, moral responsibility, personal agency and authentic existence, all explicitly and implicitly inform workers’ professional relationships and practices. It proposes a rich understanding of dignity provides an overarching framework for understanding and responding to a lived experience of mental illness.