DAY NINETEEN: Pushback

An extreemly full day at TheMHS conference in Adelaide. Mary O'Hagan, veteran lived experience activist/professional (pictured), gave the keynote speech this morning and used this excellent image to depict the frustration of pushing against the tide. She argued for compromise and progress over purism and spoke of how she finds allies in unexpected parts of mental health systems, whilst always sitting on the periphery of different roles. I imagine this struck a chord for most of us listening.

Another session soberly reminded us that we don't yet know if putting people with lived experience of mental illness in positions of leadership is going to result in the hoped-for change. It made me think of Mary's wish to live to 500 so that she can see what is working for mental health reform and abolition movements. 

I was turned away from the rooftop bar where I hoped to catch the sunset as they had a private event, but I suspect my footwear would have precluded access even if they had been open. So I saw the last of the light (at only 5.45pm) from ground level and returned to my motel for pizza and trying to navigate the world of linkedin.