Education and Training for Support Industry: Understanding Lived Experience of Schizophrenia
Location: Online Zoom
Duration: 1hr 30mins
Presenter: Richard J Bell - Lived Experience Educator
Who is this interactive seminar designed for?
The speech is designed for people studying, working or volunteering in the support industry, such as social workers, community workers, and NDIS support workers.
What will I get from this seminar?
The aim of Richard sharing his lived experience of schizophrenia is so you can have a better understanding of what a person with schizophrenia goes through, and how it affects them, so you can make more informed decisions in the workplace on how to act.
Why do you share your lived experience?
Richard shares his lived experience with schizophrenia as an educator, so people can get a different perspective than the textbook, developing an understanding of what people go through, and breaking down stigma by personalising the experiences.
How is it delivered?
Each speech is carefully crafted for different, situations and scenarios that each industry faces, by sharing personal stories of what he went through during his mental illness and challenges he faced on an emotional, physical and mental level.
Why is there a need for this education seminar?
The concept of losing a client is when they don’t want to use your services anymore. The goal is to keep the patient healthy, happy and engaged while with your service. So these speeches are designed to give you history of what some people go through, to educate and inform you so you can make the best decision possible for both you and your client.
This seminar is designed to develop an understanding of what happens to a person who lives with schizophrenia. It is a lived experience speech with questions and answers at the end. Richard J Bell has been a lived experience educator since 2007, public speaking to educate others, giving a different perspective than the textbook.
Since 2007, Richard has conducted numerous workshops and training sessions for small groups of medical professionals and community members. These include organisations such as Sydney University, Ultimo TAFE, St Marys and Cabramatta Area Health Services, Anglicare Aged Care workers, Neami, Police MHIT unit, Ambulance officers and training inductions. His ability to connect with diverse audiences, combined with his clear and impactful communication style, allows him to impart critical knowledge on mental health awareness, effective support strategies, and the importance of compassionate care.
Richard J. Bell is a passionate mental health advocate and lived experienced speaker, dedicated to raising awareness and sharing his lived experience with mental health challenges. With over a decade of experience in community engagement and education, Richard has become a respected voice in mental health discussions, particularly around the complexities of conditions such as schizophrenia.
