Lived experience dilemmas and challenges

Introduction: Recovery seems to have become a bandwagon that almost everyone in the mental health field wants to jump on.  However, those who ride in the wagon seem to rarely examine it for building defects that may threaten its integrity and eventually its future.  Methods: In this proposed talk we challenge the current inclusion of lived experience and suggest that a paradoxical paternalism lies in the lack of critical appraisal of lived experience. This is important, because paternalism is a way to keep the power on the professional hands and continue the suppression of user voices. Results: We suggest therefore, that to achieve true power equality, we need to develop abilities to discuss all types of perspectives critically and respectfully, while paying attention to the sensitive situation of sharing personal experiences. Discussion: We will discuss challenges related to dilemmas about what meets the criteria of  lived experience, its use and misuse and disclosure.