Cottesloe, Western Australia

The spark was lit when Susie and I reconnected, and , the idea for a Fundraising Ball for Mental Health began to take shape. Keith joined us and while he admired our fresh ideas and energy, he admitted he wasn’t a big fan of formal balls. It was the start of something special, we called “Meeting for Minds”.

Fremantle, Western Australia

Inspired by Susie's powerful words, "Research is Hope," we set out to create something brave and innovative. With the support of Ian Hickie, Sebastian Rosenberg, and Keith Wilson, we held a groundbreaking forum. Instead of the usual presentations, we invited brilliant minds to share their insights and perspectives on key questions, blending their expertise in an open, dynamic setting. For two and a half days, people from all walks of life, expertise  – those living with mental illness, clinicians, researchers of basic science, nurses, and politicians – came together, contributing fully to every workshop. Many said they wished it could have lasted longer, as the connections and exchanges were profoundly inspiring, breaking down barriers that often keep these groups apart.

After this initial conference, we realized just how valuable the insights from lived experience are for researchers and that these two groups needed more opportunities to connect. This led us on a journey of learning, traveling, and exchanging ideas on how best to bring them together.

Fremantle, Western Australia

The result was our next forum, "SYNERGIES," where we explored the powerful connections between people with lived experience of mental illness and researchers. We invited global leaders who were already integrating lived experience in innovative ways, including researchers who themselves had personal experience with mental illness.

This gathering confirmed what we felt was missing – a genuine, equal platform for dialogue. Working alongside People with Lived Experience of mental illness (PLEX), we discussed and explored this in multiple countries, eventually agreeing on the acronym as a title  "PLEX meets Professor." It beautifully captured the essence of these encounters, where lived experience and academic knowledge truly meet as equals.

Switzerland

We launched the SYNERGIES program (insert link here), where three pioneering researchers and a group of PLEX (People with Lived Experience) embraced this groundbreaking collaboration. During the launch event, the three researchers presented their projects alongside their PLEX Research Partners to a captivated audience of medical and neuroscience students and curious observers. Every six weeks thereafter, the self-designated PLEX would visit the research centres for regular meetings with the researchers, guided by our SYNERGIES coordinator.

As these SYNERGIES meetings continued and as the films documenting them began to emerge, excitement and interest stirred. Both PLEX and researchers were equally intrigued and occasionally challenged, but trust and curiosity flourished, leading to many novel insights.

While the world paused, SYNERGIES adapted by moving online. There were unforgettable moments, like when Isabelle Mansuy shared the groundbreaking results from the trials on third-generation traumatized mice. This remarkable moment was captured live during a SYNERGIES Zoom meeting, bypassing the traditional lengthy path of writing and publishing research findings. Usually, such discoveries take months to reach the public – if at all. Thanks to the collaboration, researchers quickly learned to use clear, simple language, making these findings accessible to everyone through the films.

The most important lesson learned: While online meetings are practical and useful, nothing compares to the powerful energy shared when everyone is together in the same room. It wasn't long before the PLEX involved in SYNERGIES requested that we return to in-person gatherings.

Fremantle, Western Australia

After years of gaining insights from countless brilliant minds, we felt a strong need to share these learnings. We wanted to reveal how the fundamental science happening behind closed doors profoundly impacts our everyday lives. To ignite curiosity and show the relevance of these discoveries, we launched the WORLD IN A BRAINSTORM Forum.