Through our pioneering Being Herd program, batyr has trained over 1400 young mental health advocates to share their lived experience stories in a safe and impactful way. Until recently, the outcomes from the Being Herd program had been measured in simple terms, with a focus on building confidence to share mental health narratives. However, anecdotal evidence suggested deeper and potentially life-changing outcomes for young people taking part in the program.
In 2023, Chris Wainwright commenced his PhD research at Griffith University, exploring the personal outcomes of batyr's lived experience activities. His research also explores the long-term developmental impacts of advocacy, with a lens on social wellbeing and civic engagement. Chris’ PhD consisted of several components including a systematic review that examined the role of mental health lived experience advocacy in shaping the personal and professional outcomes of young advocates, a pre-post program evaluation to develop quantitative insight into the outcomes of the Being Herd program, and a qualitative investigation into how lived experience mental health advocacy shapes social wellbeing and civic engagement.
This presentation will highlight how batyr’s Being Herd program leads to:
Furthermore, we will discuss how lived experience advocacy shapes the social wellbeing and civic engagement of young people as revealed by Chris’ PhD. Key findings include how young people’s involvement with lived experience advocacy:
Our focus on empowering young people with a lived experience to share their stories and the positive findings of Chris’ PhD speaks directly to the conference theme of United Voices, Brighter Futures.