First Journal Publication: Co-Creation and Recovery in Mental Health Services | Michael Elwan

Today, I’m beyond thrilled and deeply humbled to share a moment I once only dreamed of - my very first journal article has been published in the Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine. This perspective piece, titled “Co-Creation and Recovery in Mental Health Services: A Lived Experience Perspective” is now live as a First View with Cambridge University Press.

This isn’t just an article; it’s a reflection of years of lived experience, hope, and the relentless belief that our mental health system can, and must, be more compassionate, inclusive, and human-centred.

In this piece, I call for a shift - a transformative journey that moves mental health services from clinical tradition toward a model that embraces recovery through co-creation in mental health services, from co-ideation to co-evaluation. It’s a vision of care that honours each person’s story, respects individual paths, and celebrates the power of collaboration where every voice counts and no one is left behind.

This journey wouldn’t have been possible without the inspiration, wisdom, and belief of those who supported me along the way. Dr. Donal O'Keeffe, Dr. Tania Pearce, Dr. Belinda Cash, Dr. Russell Roberts, and many others; thank you for your mentorship, your encouragement, and for seeing something in me that, at times, I struggled to see in myself. You’ve each made this milestone a reality and reminded me that I am capable of contributing to this crucial movement.

This is the first of many steps, and I hope this publication will ignite conversations, inspire systemic change, and bring us closer to a mental health system that truly heals and empowers.

To anyone reading who feels a calling to make a difference: keep going. Your voice matters. Your journey matters. And together, we can shape a better future.

Read the article here

The work of bringing lived experience into the architecture of mental health services is the same work I take into consultancy and systems advisory engagements. The publication is one piece of a longer conversation about what it takes to shift services from clinical tradition toward something genuinely shared.