Mad Movements and the history of lived experience advocacy

Before lived experience experts were recognised as key to mental health research and policy, and before there was greater general awareness of what “Public and Patient Involvement”, service users and lived experience experts can contribute, mad activist movements and survivor groups were fighting for recognition and shared power in decision-making. These groups have been pivotal in shaping the landscape for lived experience, but sometimes their methods and language are contested as "controversial".

Global launch event at the World Congress for Public Health 2026

Our commitment

Western/non-Indigenous models of health practice frequently overlook place-based wisdom, underestimate the role of culture, community, land, and identity, and operate in vertical or siloed systems. This initiative will establish a dynamic ecosystem connecting partners across multiple sectors, including mental health, public health, planetary health, and Indigenous-led networks. Together, we will build connected, equitable, and culturally grounded systems of prevention and care, and develop policies and practices able to promote health at all levels as the critical foundation for flourishing people in thriving societies for all.

Our approach

This short-term action group (STAG) is a two-year, globally coordinated programme designed to build the operational vehicle and functions to strengthen equity and social cohesion across communities and structures. We are creating a “home” for networks within existing global entities to foster a reciprocal, multi-sector collaboration. We will bring together voluntary members, fellows and interns to advance community-driven approaches towards improved wellbeing for indigenous peoples.

Replay our launch webinar!

Our objectives

Strengthen global and regional capacity for equitable and culturally grounded action on improving the wellbeing of indigenous peoples around the world, and showcase a whole-system lens to improving mental health prevention and care.
Increase the representation of Indigenous voices in global decision-making fora for mental health and drive evidence-based policy change at the national level through collaborative and inclusive mental health advocacy.
Develop scalable models for improved mental health for all, social cohesion, climate-health resilience, and community-led governance, grounded in indigenous knowledge systems and lived experiences.
Foster cross-sector learning between GMHAN members, youth leaders, Indigenous communities, practitioners, researchers, and policymakers and civil society organisations.

Join the group!

Become a GMHAN Member today!

Free registration

Mad Movements and the history of lived experience advocacy

Our commitment

Our approach

Strengthen global and regional capacity for equitable and culturally grounded action on improving the wellbeing of indigenous peoples around the world, and showcase a whole-system lens to improving mental health prevention and care.

Increase the representation of Indigenous voices in global decision-making fora for mental health and drive evidence-based policy change at the national level through collaborative and inclusive mental health advocacy.

Develop scalable models for improved mental health for all, social cohesion, climate-health resilience, and community-led governance, grounded in indigenous knowledge systems and lived experiences.

Foster cross-sector learning between GMHAN members, youth leaders, Indigenous communities, practitioners, researchers, and policymakers and civil ​​society organisations.

Become a GMHAN Member today!

Foster cross-sector learning between GMHAN members, youth leaders, Indigenous communities, practitioners, researchers, and policymakers and civil society organisations.