Clinical notes are central to mental health care, yet they are traditionally written by clinicians about consumers rather than with them (Hall, et al., 2018; Goodwin & Happell, 2006; Tobin, Chen, & Leathley, 2002). This often results in records that are detached from the lived experience of the individual and can unintentionally reinforce disempowerment and disengagement (Denneson, Cromer, Williams, Pisciotta, & Dobscha, 2017). The My Voice, My Words project, is being piloted in the Southern NSW Local Health District, Suicide Prevention Outreach Team from 2025 and aims to explore a change process to enable consumers to contribute directly to their clinical notes, supported by peer workers.
Evidence suggests hat person-centred approaches improve outcomes (Delbanco, et al., 2010; Tobin, Chen, & Leathley, 2002; Benjamins, Haveman-Nies, Gunnink, Goudkuil, & De Vet, 2021; Kerr, McKay, Klim, Kelly, & McCann, 2014), the pilot project seeks to address the gap between policy aspirations for consumer involvement and the reality of clinician-led documentation (Goodwin & Happell, 2006) (Cromer, et al., 2017) (Denneson, Cromer, Williams, Pisciotta, & Dobscha, 2017). A trial of structured and unstructured templates allowing consumers to contribute their goals, reflections, and perspectives. Peer workers with lived experience provide support, guidance and encouragement.
We aim to see the project increase consumers empowerment, ownership, and trust in their care relationships; and clinicians developing greater awareness of language, improved accuracy of documentation, and enhanced therapeutic rapport (Goddu, et al., 2018; Benjamins, Haveman-Nies, Gunnink, Goudkuil, & De Vet, 2021; DesRoches, et al., 2020; Brooks, Lovell, Bee, Sanders, & Rogers, 2018). Organisational benefits may include clearer communication, potential efficiency gains, and reducing miscommunication (Hartzler & Pratt, 2011; Detmer, Bloomrosen, Raymond, & Tang, 2008; Delbanco, et al., 2010; Kerr, McKay, Klim, Kelly, & McCann, 2014). Importantly, peer worker involvement is emerging as a critical enabler, bridging power imbalances and ensuring participation was meaningful rather than tokenistic (Cleary, Raeburn, Escott, West, & Lopez, 2018; Coordinare, 2021; Brooks, Lovell, Bee, Sanders, & Rogers, 2018).
My Voice, My Words aims to demonstrate that integrating consumer contributions into clinical documentation is feasible, ethical, and aligned with contemporary policy directions. The initiative reflects the NSPC26 theme United Voices, Brighter Futures, by centring lived experience, fostering inclusive dialogue, and co-creating a shared record of care. Hopefully lessons from the pilot will provide a blueprint for broader implementation across mental health services, reinforcing the hope that care can be both clinically effective and genuinely collaborative.