The inaugural meeting of the reference group for the National Implementation and Monitoring Committee (NIMC) for Sharing the Vision takes place in Dublin today, 11th May. The Reference Group, who will report to and consult with the NIMC Steering Committee on an ongoing basis, will represent the voice of lived experience from a service user and family member perspective.
One of the key priorities of NIMC is to ensure that the values of recovery and person centeredness espoused in Sharing the Vision are prioritised in all aspects of the implementation of the policy. As the only national mental health organisation established to support all family members, recovery and person-centred service provision are core to Shine’s approach to mental health support. The reference group will give voice to those most affected by mental health difficulties and will offer value and credibility to the implementation and monitoring of Sharing the Vision.
Ahead of the inaugural meeting of the group, Shine CEO Nicola Byrne said;
“I am delighted that Shine has been selected to host the Reference Group for the Sharing the Vision National Implementation Monitoring Committee. Shine is proud of its long history of working to empower people with mental health difficulties, their families and supporters through support and information. We also advocate for social change by promoting and defending the rights of all those affected by mental health difficulties to equal support and quality services. We look forward to the voice of those with lived experience being at the core of mental health service development and to becoming active partners in the process of implementing the recommendations of Sharing the Vision.”
Speaking on behalf of the Reference Group, Sharon Lane, Chairperson of the group said;
“We are honoured to have been selected to represent the wider voice of mental health service users and their family members in the Implementation of the Sharing the Vision Mental Health policy. The Reference Group is committed to ensuring that the voice of the service user is central to the policy implementation process and we welcome the group’s role as a positive move by all partners in the process. Enabling people with lived experience of mental health difficulties and their loved ones to have access to enhanced person centred and strengths based public health services in Ireland, is critical for future service provision and for the implementation of key recommendations within Sharing the Vision. As a group we look forward to using our lived and professional experiences and our voices to work collaboratively with the broader National Implementation and Monitoring Committee in achieving these outcomes.”
Minister for Mental Health and Older People Mary Butler, who recently launched the Sharing the Vision: Implementation Plan 2022 – 2024 said;
“I am delighted to announce the establishment of this important group. The importance of the participation of service users, family members, carers and supporters in policy making and implementation cannot be understated. It is absolutely vital that people who use our services are at the heart of the design, development and delivery of the systems we build to serve them. I feel very strongly about this and I will support the inclusion of that crucial lived experience perspective in any way I can.”