Announcing the One Mind Community Advisory Network
On behalf of the One Mind Lived Experience Council, it is with great pleasure that we announce the launch of our One Mind Community Advisory Network (OMCAN)—a powerful new extension of our commitment to lived experience leadership in mental health.
The One Mind Community Advisory Network is a diverse, volunteer-driven group of 30 dedicated mental health advocates carefully selected to expand and enrich the work of the One Mind Lived Experience Council (OMLEC). Each member brings lived experience—either personally or as a first-degree family member of someone living with a serious mental health condition—alongside professional expertise in mental health-related fields including science, healthcare, entrepreneurship, communications, and implementation.
“The formation of the One Mind Community Advisory Network entailed a phenomenal team effort by the whole Lived Experience Council (especially Alex Sheehan as its Interim Chair), and as a result, the Network includes advocacy champions with a diversity of powerful expertise,” said One Mind Lived Experience Council Chair, Brandon Staglin. “OMCAN’s incoming Chair, Matt Lewis, exemplifies the thoughtfulness, integrity and devotion to mental health seen throughout the group. The Council and I look forward to collaborating with Matt and the Network to guide the growth of programs to meet people’s genuine needs.”
Under the leadership of Matt Lewis (Chair), a renowned entrepreneur and global expert in AI for mental health, OMCAN is poised to accelerate One Mind’s mission through collaboration, innovation, and advocacy.
What OMCAN Will Do
OMCAN members will support the One Mind Lived Experience Initiative (OMLEI) through year-round program engagement and participation in other OMLEC related activities, including but not limited to:
- Helping shape OMLEC recommendations to One Mind leadership
- Policy or activity recommendations for One Mind Lived Experience Summits
- Review of OMLEC produced whitepapers
- Participating in speaking or media engagements on behalf of the OMLEC
- Serving as consultants for One Mind program beneficiaries (e.g. Rising Star Awardees, One Mind Accelerator entrepreneurs, and One Mind at Work members)
Why Lived Experience Matters
Research consistently shows that integrating the perspectives of people with lived experience (PWLE) into the design of mental health services and research leads to more impactful, inclusive, and creative solutions. It not only improves outcomes—it also reduces stigma, builds trust, and fosters genuine empowerment.
With the formation of OMCAN, we are deepening our commitment to the vision of the Lived Experience Initiative: to create a future where PWLE are not just contributors, but co-creators of the mental health landscape, driving transformation and promoting a more inclusive and empathetic approach to mental health research, innovation, and services.
What’s Next
OMCAN’s first initiative will be contributing to research surveys for our developing One Mind Launchpad program: “SMI in the Workplace”, helping shape strategies to assist those living with serious mental illness to grow meaningful careers in supportive work environments.
As we continue to expand the reach of the One Mind Lived Experience Initiative, OMCAN will serve as a vital force in advancing experience-informed leadership—driving transformation, fostering empathy, and building a mental health system that listens, includes, and evolves.
Together, we are moving closer to a world where lived experience isn’t just valued—it’s essential.