2 May 2024

Since 2015, Vittoria De Meo has worked with various NHS providers as an Independent Mental Health Advisor with lived experience and a Carer Senior Representative for CNWL.

Vittoria spoke in an interview with the NHS in North West London about her own experiences and the opportunities brought on by effective community-based mental health care pathways.

Vittoria has experienced mental health services both as a service user and a carer for her daughters.

When asked what it’s like being a patient in a hospital setting, Vittoria answers: “Not easy at all. People are often very isolated.”

In contrast, Vittoria praises the “person-centred” resources offered by community mental health care. She speaks of how motivating and inspiring it can be when community staff with their own lived experience are able to help people through similar struggles and show them a different direction of travel.

Vittoria concludes that there is space for a new “culture” of integrated care systems which bring in more help from voluntary organisations.