National Council of Persons with Lived Experience

The National Council of Persons with Lived Experience (NCPLE), formerly the National Consumer Advisory Council (NCAC), is an advisory committee to CMHA National and the CMHA National Board of Directors composed of volunteers with lived experience of mental illness. The NCPLE works in partnership with CMHA National and the National Board of Directors to ensure that the voices and needs of persons with lived experience help guide the focus and work of the National office by sharing their wisdom, knowledge, and insights gained from lived experience. In order to infuse the voice of lived experience from the top down, the elected NCPLE Chair holds a seat on the CMHA National Board of Directors.

Over the years, the NCPLE has been instrumental in infusing the voice of lived experience within CMHA National.

Recent accomplishments

Ongoing

• Collaboratively discuss and decide on a definition for a “Person with Lived Experience (PWLE)” to be used within CMHA National and the National Board of Directors;
• Develop and implement new strategies for engagement with PWLE at CMHA National and across the federation ;
• Participate in media opportunities requested both internally and externally;
• Assist with the development of CMHA National Strategic Planning.

Consultation on papers/policy statements

• Mental Health as a Human Right (2020/21)
• Statement on Universal Basic Income (2020)
• CMHA statements regarding Federal COVID-19 response and supporting the mental health of Canadians and First Responders (2020)- Cohesive, Collaborative, Collective: Advancing Mental Health Promotion in Canada (2019)
• Mental Health in the Balance: Ending the Health Care Disparity in Canada (2018)
• Care Not Corrections: Relieving the Opioid Crisis in Canada (2018)
• Pharmacare (As part of Canada wide consultation for a National Pharmacare policy) (2018)
• CMHA Position Paper on Medical Assistance in Dying (2017)

Presentations

• CMHA National MH4A Conference 2020: Facilitated Lived-Experience Break Out Rooms
• CMHA National MH4A Conference 2019: Conference Workshop: “Meet the NCPLE”, Facilitated Emerging Issues Forum
• CMHA National Conference 2018: Conference Workshop Model for Engagement, Facilitated Emerging Issues Forum (new workshop created by NCPLE designed exclusively for people with lived experience)
• Peer Support Conference 2018 Breakfast session: “Peer Support: A Crucial Resource in Enabling Recovery from Mental Illness and Maintaining Recovery”

Committee participation

• CMHA National Conference Planning Committee and Abstract Review Committee (2018-2020)

Media coverage

• 2020 member featured in Canadian Medical Journal about 3-digit Suicide Hotline: Canada will have three-digit suicide prevention hotline by 2023 | CMAJ
• 2020 member featured in CBC The National on a piece about Wellness Checks  https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/police-wellness-check-alternatives-1.5637169
• 2020 member featured in Huffington Post about Police Crisis Teams – Nominated for a Special Journalism award: https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/police-mental-health-canada_ca_5f170a04c5b651977c071e6f
• 2020 member featured on Global News about Seasonal Affective Disorder: Seasonal affective disorder is more than just the winter blues | Watch News Videos Online (globalnews.ca)
• 2020 member featured in Saskatoon StarPhoenix about World Suicide Prevention Day: On suicide prevention day, a mother remembers one of thousands lost | The Star Phoenix

Stories from Council members

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

The Council currently has members from Saskatchewan, Quebec, Yukon, and Nova Scotia. The NCPLE strives to maintain a council that is nationally representative and inclusive of all backgrounds. We have temporarily put recruitment of new members on hold until further notice. Please continue to check our website for updates and CMHA National’s social media pages for features of NCPLE activities. 

To find out more or to be contacted when recruitment opens, please contact our National Lived Experience Specialist, Rebekah Sears at: [email protected].