Our Turn to Speak

Our Turn to Speak is a national survey that seeks to understand the life experiences of people living with severe and complex mental health issues in Australia.

Our Turn to Speak will investigate the lived experiences – both positive and negative – of people affected by these issues. SANE Australia’s Anne Deveson Research Centre (ADRC), in partnership with the Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences (MSPS) at the University of Melbourne is seeking 7,000 people aged 18 and over who have experienced complex mental health issues in the last 12 months.

In order to advocate for better support for people affected by complex mental health issues and to improve social outcomes, we are seeking a sample of 7,000 respondents who reflect Australia’s diverse population.

SANE’s ultimate goal is to make a real difference in the lives of people affected by complex mental health issues through support, research and advocacy.

We want to understand people’s experiences across a broad range of areas (“life domains”), including: housing, employment, education, healthcare, mental healthcare, finance and insurance, public spaces and recreation, mass media, social media, relationships, welfare and social services, community groups, justice and legal services, and religious and faith practices.

More than 690,000 Australians aged 18 and over live with complex mental health issues. Our Turn to Speak will explore if and how these issues impact the many and varied aspects of participants’ lives. The survey findings will then be used to inform SANE’s future advocacy efforts, as we work towards improved social outcomes and support for all Australian affected by these issues.

Following a short (approximately 5 minutes) eligibility screening process, participants will be asked to complete the survey. The survey will take about 30 minutes and can be completed online right now, or over the phone. Participants can take the survey over the phone from Monday, 11 November 2019, between 9am–8pm (AEDT), Monday–Friday.

All responses will be kept confidential, and participants may be offered a $25 electronic gift card as reimbursement for their time upon closure of the survey (first half 2020). Only one gift card is available per participant. SANE reserves the right to withhold reimbursement if we believe an individual has taken the survey more than once.

Participants must be aged 18 years or over, and must have experienced severe and complex mental health issues in the last 12 months. To see if you or someone you know is eligible to participate, take a look at the website.