Shifting the Power: A Multi-Stakeholder Roundtable on Transitioning from Lived Experience Consultation to Co-Leadership in Public Health
1
Young WFPHA, Geneva, Switzerland
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A2537
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
While global health rhetoric emphasizes the inclusion of People With Lived Experience (PWLE), involvement in NCDs, including Mental Health, remains tokenistic. Evidence shows that PWLE-led initiatives improve research recruitment, retention, and the cultural relevance of interventions. However, structural barriers—including systemic stigma and limited access to professional opportunities—frequently relegate PWLE to being "informants" rather than leaders. To "walk the talk," public health systems must transition power to PWLE, allowing them to design the very methods, policies, and mobilization practices that govern NCDs including Mental Health.
METHODS:
This 60-minute organized roundtable brings together researchers, policymakers, and community mobilizers. The session employs a "Power-Mapping" methodology to evaluate current engagement models against the WHO Framework for Meaningful Engagement. Participants will facilitate a structured dialogue to identify specific transition points for power-sharing. The discussion will focus on dismantling the "Participation Gap" by addressing how the socio-economic marginalization of those living with NCDs, including Mental Health, prevents them from occupying lead investigator and policy-design roles.
RESULTS:
The session will produce an actionable "Roadmap for Co-Leadership." Expected outcomes include strategies for the formal recognition of "experiential expertise" in academic settings and frameworks for inclusive recruitment that bypass traditional stigma-based barriers. Participants will identify mechanisms to ensure that the design of mobilization strategies for NCDs, including Mental Health, is inherently sensitive and responsive to the needs of the community.
CONCLUSIONS:
Shifting the narrative from "researching on" to "leading with" is a prerequisite for health equity. By addressing the intersection of stigma and institutional access, the public health community can standardize a model where PWLE are the architects of solutions for NCDs, including Mental Health. This session serves as a call to action to move beyond consultation and institutionalize co-leadership.
While global health rhetoric emphasizes the inclusion of People With Lived Experience (PWLE), involvement in NCDs, including Mental Health, remains tokenistic. Evidence shows that PWLE-led initiatives improve research recruitment, retention, and the cultural relevance of interventions. However, structural barriers—including systemic stigma and limited access to professional opportunities—frequently relegate PWLE to being "informants" rather than leaders. To "walk the talk," public health systems must transition power to PWLE, allowing them to design the very methods, policies, and mobilization practices that govern NCDs including Mental Health.
METHODS:
This 60-minute organized roundtable brings together researchers, policymakers, and community mobilizers. The session employs a "Power-Mapping" methodology to evaluate current engagement models against the WHO Framework for Meaningful Engagement. Participants will facilitate a structured dialogue to identify specific transition points for power-sharing. The discussion will focus on dismantling the "Participation Gap" by addressing how the socio-economic marginalization of those living with NCDs, including Mental Health, prevents them from occupying lead investigator and policy-design roles.
RESULTS:
The session will produce an actionable "Roadmap for Co-Leadership." Expected outcomes include strategies for the formal recognition of "experiential expertise" in academic settings and frameworks for inclusive recruitment that bypass traditional stigma-based barriers. Participants will identify mechanisms to ensure that the design of mobilization strategies for NCDs, including Mental Health, is inherently sensitive and responsive to the needs of the community.
CONCLUSIONS:
Shifting the narrative from "researching on" to "leading with" is a prerequisite for health equity. By addressing the intersection of stigma and institutional access, the public health community can standardize a model where PWLE are the architects of solutions for NCDs, including Mental Health. This session serves as a call to action to move beyond consultation and institutionalize co-leadership.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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