Lisa Androulidakis Lisa Androulidakis

Experience Is the Seed; Practice Is the Growth - Nurturing True Peer Work

Discover why Experience Is the Seed; Practice Is the Growth breaks down the crucial difference between simply having lived experience and practising it as disciplined peer work. Learn how true peer leadership demands reflective practice, clear hiring standards, and impact measures that value hope, not just head counts and throughputs.

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Lisa Androulidakis Lisa Androulidakis

They’re Not ‘Hard to Reach’ – They’re Tired of Being Reached

Why do some communities say no to research? In this guest blog, Chris Frederick explores refusal as an act of protection, not disengagement in Black mental health research. He calls for a new model of participation rooted in trust, co-production, and lived experience and peer leadership.

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Lisa Androulidakis Lisa Androulidakis

From Findings to Fuel: Turning Community Research into Real World Influence

Learn how to transform community‑led research findings into real‑world policy and practice. In the final post of our series, we dive into Calgary’s private‑college reform and Samaritans UK’s online‑chat evaluation to show how collaboration, trust and community ownership drive lasting change. If you’re looking to ensure your research doesn’t just gather data but fuels policy shifts and service innovations, this blog is for you.

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Lisa Androulidakis Lisa Androulidakis

From Data to Dialogue: Practical Methods for Community-Led Research

Learn how community-led research turns local stories into solid evidence that decision-makers respect. We explain easy methods (story circles, asset mapping, peer research and analysis) that let lived-experience data shape real policy change. Perfect for anyone searching practical tips on participatory research and community engagement.

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Lisa Androulidakis Lisa Androulidakis

Is it Research or Is it Community Engagement?”

Learn the key differences between community engagement and community-led research: power dynamics, trust-building, and why solid relationships, not just datasets drive meaningful, evidence-based change. Perfect for anyone asking “how do I do good community research?”

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Lisa Androulidakis Lisa Androulidakis

If You’re Not at the Table, You’re on the Menu

For too long, lived experience in mental health has been seen as something to be consulted rather than something that drives leadership. Co-production models have been a step forward, but they often stop short of real power-sharing. The future of mental health advocacy, peer support, and service design lies not just in co-production but in lived experience leadership.

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Lisa Androulidakis Lisa Androulidakis

Improving mental health – so many options, what works?

The focus of #WorldMentalHealthDay is the importance of addressing #MentalHealth and #Wellbeing in the workplace.

Often mental health leaders unintentionally overwhelm workplaces and communities with choices, expecting audiences to wade through the vast array of options and accompanying jargon.

Let's look at proven ideas to improve mental health in your organisation.

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