Flinders University Department of Rural Health in collaboration with University of South Australia delivered two workshops in Mount Gambier recently.
Participants included staff and students from health, mental health and social care services who may encounter people who hear distressing voices in their work. Participants report an increase in insight, the value of hearing Lived Experience, understanding and empathy for people who hear distressing voices, including how challenging this may make day-to-day activities.
The program facilitators Lee Martinez (UniSA) and Carol-Ann Stanborough (Flinders Uni) have recently published research demonstrating how the workshop increased participants empathy.
The current workshop program is part of a National Teletrial rural research project exploring how participation in the workshop may evoke changes to practice. The presenting team includes people with a Lived Experience of hearing distressing voices.
SA Mental Health Commissioner Taimi Allan joined a workshop to observe the simulation and join the debrief and reported the valuable nature of this training.
Carol-Ann Stanborough, Chloe M. E. Fletcher, Lee Martinez e70027 | First Published: 18 March 2025 https://doi.org/10.1111/inm.70027