National Council of Persons with Lived Experience

The National Council of Persons with Lived Experience (NCPLE) is an advisory committee composed of volunteers with living/lived experience of mental illness(es) and/or addiction that guides the work of CMHA National and the CMHA National Board of Directors.

Vision

A society where living/lived experience informs equitable mental and substance use health policies, programs and communications.

Mission

To provide oversight, guidance and support to ensure CMHA National’s strategy, vision, mission, goals and activities are driven by the voice of people with living and lived experience.

Mandate

The NCPLE ensures that the voices and needs of people with living/lived experience of a mental illness(es) and/or addiction guide the work of CMHA National. Its members do this by sharing wisdom, knowledge, and insights gained from their experiences, including as service users in the mental health and substance use health systems. To ensure living/lived experience is part of decision-making at CMHA National, the elected Chair of the NCPLE is a member of the CMHA National Board of Directors.

What is living/lived experience and why does it matter?

Living/lived experience of a mental illness(es) and/or addiction refers to experiential knowledge and expertise based on real, direct and personal life experience, and brings knowledge and expertise that cannot be gleaned from research alone. There are many terms used to describe people with lived experience. They are sometimes referred to as service or system users, clients, and beneficiaries. The language is always changing.

It’s crucial to include the perspectives and insights of people with living/lived experience in CMHA and community mental and substance use health programs and services (and generally across the mental healthcare system) because:

• people with living/lived experience are impacted by the programs and services that were designed and developed for them in the first place; they know how the programs work (and don’t work) and how they can be improved.
• people with living/lived experience can help correct the wrongs of the past and those that endure, including sanism, ableism, discrimination, stigma, marginalization, paternalism, colonialism, neocolonialism.
• to change systems and be true partners in the development of policy and activities, people with living/lived experience must work alongside staff and decision makers as co-creators.

Explore Charity Village’s article Voice’s of Experience for a more detailed discussion on the value of incorporating lived/living experience to develop programs and services.

Current NCPLE members

Ailie McGinty (she/her), Chair

Passionate about the importance of lived experience. Involved in grassroots lived experience organizations for over 20 years in Canada and Scotland. Her own experiences of the mental health system got her involved in this work and greatly influenced her career choices. She is the Crown Attorney for Dartmouth (Nova Scotia) Wellness Court. Avid hiker and crafter.

Caroline W (she/her)

Advocate for suicide prevention, accessible mental healthcare, and better crisis care and response. Lived experience with depression and anxiety. Suicide attempt and loss survivor. Supervisor for 988, past responder for Talk Suicide, and illustrator.

Hassaan Khan (he/him)

Passionate about men’s mental health including removing the stigma around men seeking help and how toxic masculinity hinders men from seeking help. Completing his Master’s in Counselling Psychology and hopes to make mental health support more accessible for everyone. Currently working as a digital marketing officer at a nonprofit organization.

Kristin Pardy (she/her)

Pre-hospital emergency health care provider, eating disorder survivor, and mom of three from Cartwright, Labrador. Proud Indigenous Canadian, member of the Nunatukavut Community Council.

Leanne Minichillo (she/her), Vice-chair

A powerful voice in promoting informed awareness of ADHD and mental illness. Her areas of aptitude focus on parental mental health, ADHD, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging strategy and human rights advocacy related to disability, which includes mental illness and substance use. Has living expertise with ADHD, Borderline Personality Disorder, Complex PTSD, childhood emotional trauma, anxiety and depression.

Leora S (she/her)

Former chair of the NCPLE and a member for over six years.  As a result of previous negative treatment experiences, she is passionate about improving access to person-centered, non-paternalistic, non-judgmental, equitable care for people living with mental illnesses.  She currently works as an implementation and research coordinator for mental health initiatives.

Shawn (he/him)

Recent member from rural Newfoundland and Labrador with symptoms of anxiety and depression. Bachelor of Arts Community Studies Graduate (psychology), Cape Breton University, with the goal of pursuing a social work degree. Active volunteer focusing on workplace accessibility, rural mental health, and peer support. An employment support worker supporting persons with intellectual disabilities to maintain meaningful employment in their community.

The NCPLE is a group of volunteers who offer knowledge and insight gained from living/lived experience of a mental illness(es) and/or addiction to guide CMHA National’s work. Like CMHA National, the NCPLE is not a crisis service. If you (or someone you care about) is in crisis or is considering suicide, please call or text 9-8-8 toll-free anytime for support in English or French. If it is an emergency, please call 9-1-1.

What we do

• Edit, review and provide feedback on documents, e.g., statements, research reports and policy positions for different audiences including the general public, decision makers, and the broader CMHA federation.
• Provide guidance and advice to CMHA National on specific activities and campaigns, and strategic priorities.

Recent contributions

June 12, 2024 Courage to feel and heal: Men’s mental health matters

September 14, 2023 Remembering Juanna Ricketts

March 21, 2023 World Bipolar Day: Ailie’s story

Get involved

There are no current vacancies on the NCPLE. Check this page and CMHA National’s social media channels for opportunities and updates, and to read about NCPLE activities. We’re also creating project-based opportunities for people with lived/living experience to share their insights in a volunteer capacity. To find out more or to be contacted when opportunities open, contact Rebekah Sears, National Lived Experience Specialist.

History of the NCPLE

In 1987, the CMHA National Board of Directors established an advisory committee to formalize the goal of putting people with living/lived experience at the centre of its work Originally called the National Consumer Advisory Council (NCAC), the committee was renamed in the 2010s in response to concerns about the term “consumer” being outdated and non-inclusive. After consultation with the broader community the committee’s name was changed to the National Council of Persons with Lived Experience (NCPLE), to better reflect the breadth of experience of its members.