In this five-part series, hear about the mental health service system through the respective - and at times contrasting – lenses of clinician and lived experience experts; psychiatrist and Deputy Chief Medical Officer for Mental Health, Dr Ruth Vine; and Victoria’s inaugural Executive Director of Lived Experience, Mary O’Hagan.

In the final episode of the series, Mary seeks Ruth’s perspective on several critiques of psychiatric practice. Tune in as they debate Mary’s description of the ‘pills and pillows’ approach to public psychiatric care, and whether diagnosis is a scientific or political process. While they don’t agree on everything, they do agree on the significance of each individual’s experience of mental illness, and the importance of empathy and curiosity in service provision.

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