In June of this year, Equally Well UK had the privilege of hosting 13 delegates from around the globe for a transformative Global Leadership Exchange match focused on improving the physical health and wellbeing of people living with mental illness. This gathering was not just a meeting; it was a dynamic exchange of ideas and strategies aimed at closing the gap in health outcomes between those living with mental illness and the general population.
The match provided a platform for delegates to share national approaches, explore various actions being taken across different countries, and discuss potential future directions.
In this blog, Shizana Arshad, Equally Well UK Lead, shares insights from the ‘A Right to Life – The International Equally Well Movement’ match and reflects on the experience as several key themes and takeaways emerge, shaping a collective approach to advancing this crucial cause.
Communication: Listening and Adapting
Effective communication was a central theme throughout the match. We learned the importance of understanding and responding to what our stakeholders want. Regular check-ins and feedback loops are essential for ensuring that we are meeting their needs and making meaningful progress. By prioritising open dialogue, we can tailor our strategies to align more closely with stakeholder expectations and enhance overall effectiveness.
Impact: Diverse Pathways to Change
Our discussions highlighted that there are numerous ways to achieve and create impact. Whether through innovative programs, policy changes, or community initiatives, the paths to improving health outcomes are varied. The key is to identify and pursue the approaches that best fit our context and objectives.
Influence: Strategic Impact
Understanding where we can have the most significant impact for change was another crucial lesson. By identifying and leveraging our areas of influence, we can direct our efforts more effectively. This means focusing on opportunities where our actions can produce the greatest benefit and strategically positioning ourselves to drive meaningful change.
Measuring impact is critical to demonstrate the progress towards these strategic goals. Plans are underway to evaluate Equally Well as an international movement through an International Policy Scorecard that will identify opportunities and gaps in progress towards our shared goal.
Collaboration: Building Strong Networks
The match underscored the power of collaboration. Connecting with like-minded movements and networks amplifies our efforts and fosters a supportive community. By working together with other organisations and stakeholders who share our goals, we can achieve greater synergy and leverage collective expertise to advance our mission.
Engagement: Inclusive and Ongoing
Engagement emerged as a vital component of our approach. Developing robust communication strategies and stakeholder engagement from the outset and including lived experience in project design ensures that our initiatives are both relevant and impactful, grounding our work in real-world needs and perspectives.
Patience and Persistence: The Process Matters
Perhaps the most profound takeaway was the realisation that creating an effective framework takes time. The journey of implementing meaningful change is a process that requires patience and persistence. It’s important to savour this process, recognising that each step forward, no matter how small, contributes to the larger goal.
What’s Next?
Looking ahead, Equally Well UK is committed to building on the connections made during the match. We invite all delegates to join us at the International Collaborative Learning Network. This platform will serve as a community of practice focused on communication and exploring international collaboration opportunities, particularly involving lived experience.
We are excited about the future and look forward to sharing our progress with you. Our journey towards improving the physical health and wellbeing of those living with mental illness is ongoing, and we are eager to continue this important work together.
Reflections from our lived experience Associate
“Collaboration with experts by lived experience was embraced throughout the match and I felt like I really belonged there, that my voice was really valued and that I wasn’t just the token person with a mental illness. My opinions and input were included and respected just like all the professionals in the group.
People came across the globe with riveting presentations, conversations and a willingness to get really stuck in. We didn’t just stop at 5pm. We had great evenings getting to know each other in a way that I feel like I have a whole set of new colleagues who I look forward to seeing and hearing from (even if it is silly 0’clock in the morning or late at night) in the International Collaborative Learning Network.
It was a great experience and so interesting to hear what other countries are doing to help with having parity of esteem between mental health and physical health.”
