19 October 2022
Equally Well UK, the national collaborative for better physical health for people with a mental illness, is delighted to welcome Marsha McAdam as the new Expert by Experience Group Chair and Hannah Moore as Vice Chair.
Equally Well UK is hosted by Centre for Mental Health in partnership with Rethink Mental Illness. All decisions are co-produced with an Expert by Experience Group, chaired by Kevin James for the past two years, and a Clinical Group chaired by Professor Wendy Burn.
At the conclusion of his two-year term as Expert by Experience group chair, Kevin James is taking up a new role as Ambassador for Equally Well UK, working nationwide to ensure no one misses out on the support they need for their physical health.
Marsha McAdam said: “I am excited to be taking on this role working with Hannah, the rest of the Expert by Experience group and partners. I am passionate about closing the mortality gap for people with a severe mental illness by the experiences of both myself and the rest of the group”
Hannah Moore said: “I have been part of Equally Well UK from the start and have loved being a part of the campaign as it has grown over the last four years. I am looking forward to working closely with Marsha and the rest of Expert by Experience group. Because of the difficulties I have experienced I have a strong desire and passion to help people with a mental illness, especially to improve their physical health which is too often ignored.”
Kevin James said: “I have loved chairing the Expert by Experience group and being involved in all decisions within Equally Well UK. I am truly passionate about the work that has been done to help close the early mortality gap.”
Sarah Hughes, Chief Executive, Centre for Mental Health, said: “We are delighted to welcome both Marsha McAdam as Chair and Hannah Moore as Vice Chair of the Expert by Experience Group. I have had the pleasure of working alongside both of them and have loved their energy, passion and drive, and have always learnt a lot from them. We have a lot to do in the next two years.
“I also want to take this opportunity to thank Kevin James for his leadership and dedication as Chair of the Expert by Experience group. I am delighted that he will take up a new role as the collaborative’s Ambassador.”
Marsha McAdam is a member of the Equally Well UK Expert by Experience Group and has many years’ experience of using physical and mental health services. Marsha is a passionate lived experience consultant, dedicated to fighting inequality, reducing stigma and striving for access to better services for all. Among other roles, Marsha is vice-chair for NHS Confed’s Mental Health Network Board and a member of the External Reference Group for Positive Practice in Mental Health. Marsha was recently awarded the Outstanding Service User Leadership Award at the National Service User Awards in recognition of her work with Tale of 3 Cities.
Hannah Moore is a member of the Equally Well UK Expert by Experience Group and also has many years of experience of using physical health and mental health services. Hannah brings to the role a wealth of experience in involvement and co-production roles, previously being the East of England Recovery and Outcomes Network Service User Lead. Hannah has spoken about her experiences at several national conferences and is a Patient Reviewer for the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ Quality Network for Forensic Mental Health Services. Hannah is a previous winner of the Outstanding Service User Award at the National Service User Awards in recognition of all her involvement work.
Kevin James has chaired the Equally Well UK Expert by Experience group for the last two years. He has 25 years lived experience of using primary and secondary mental health and substance misuse services. Kevin works with and advises many providers including Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Mental Health Trust as a Peer Consultant & Lived Experience Practitioner. Among other roles, is a member of Rethink Mental Illness Lived Experience Advisory Board, is a member of the Norfolk Mental Health Providers Forum and part of a group advising the adult acute and crisis mental health team at NHS England
