For #WhatWENeed 2025, Psychiatric Survivors Association (PSA) Fiji shares an in-depth reflection on how persons with psychosocial disabilities were enabled to take part meaningfully and contribute to Fij’s review of Mental Health Act.
Their blog reflects on the Mental Health Act Review in Fiji and highlights a long-standing gap: persons with psychosocial disabilities have often been excluded from policy consultations due to stigma, inaccessible formats, and limited support to participate on an equal basis with others. PSA outlines why this exclusion had to be addressed and how their involvement in the 2024–2025 Technical Working Group created a pathway for change. They secured early access to timelines and methodologies, advocated for a dedicated consultation for their members, and ensured that reasonable accommodation was built into the process. This approach allowed people to engage meaningfully and as informed contributors and knowledge holders, shaping national reform. PSA sets out clear recommendations such as accessible documents, flexible consultation formats, trauma-informed facilitation, and tailored consultation spaces for persons with psychosocial disabilities for future consultation processes.
This blog is a testament to when processes are intentional and rights-based, persons with psychosocial disabilities are not just “included” but they lead, shape, and inform national reform.
