A new project is capturing the real experiences of people who have used or worked in NHS mental health services across Sussex.
Living Histories, launched by Heads On – the charity of Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust – records personal stories from the closure of old asylums in the 1980s through to the Covid-19 pandemic and beyond.
Fifteen trained volunteers carried out 35 in-depth interviews with people who have experienced mental health services. These conversations explore themes such as care, recovery, identity and relationships, helping to document how mental health support has changed over the past 40 years.
Seven podcast episodes have been produced using clips from these interviews, allowing people to share their experiences in their own words.