Well, hey there 👋🏻
As a late-diagnosed autistic ADHDer, I am passionate about sharing my own lived experience, professional expertise and more general information around neurodivergence and the impact this can have on mental health.
I have worked in the mental healthcare space for the last two years for organisations including The Royal College of Psychiatrists, Mind and King’s College London. Additionally, I have lived experience of mental health problems as well as living with multiple chronic illnesses and an eating disorder, and facing clinical negligence and systemic abuse from mental health services in the UK.
Other topics of interest include: diversity & inclusion, children and young people’s (CYP) mental health, social justice and forensic psychology.
Services 👩🏻💻
I’ve worked with charities - both paid and voluntarily - for several years. I’ve spoken at events, inputed in research and have been involved in the online mental health and neurodiversity communities for many years. I’ve appeared on BBC alongside Roman Kemp and written blogs, recorded podcasts and spoken at conferences.
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I have several years of experience writing blogs and articles. After starting my very first blog way back in 2017, I am experienced in writing about my own lived experience and general topics around mental health and neurodiversity. I worked in marketing and communications for years and am a strong and creative writer.
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I’m a confident communicator and have experience with talking to different audiences, both in person, virtually and on podcasts/television. I am comfortable talking about my lived experience with neurodiversity, mental health problems, stigma, discrimination and many more issues. I can tailor my approach to the needs of the audience but always work in a trauma-informed way.
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I spent almost a year working in a lived experience leadership role for one of the UK’s largest mental health charities and have led on many influence and participation opportunities in this role such as co-creating resources, planning and running lived experience events and providing guidance on different ways of involving people. Looking to work with people with lived experience in your work? Get in touch 👋🏻
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I’ve contributed to various research projects - both long and short term - held by Russell Group universities on topics surrounding self harm, autism, eating disorders and creative therapies. I really enjoy participating in research and have a strong interest in psychology*.
*Fun fact - I wanted to study psychology at university back in the day!
As a young woman with lived experience, Naomi worked with us on a research project exploring the impact of creative therapies to address self harm in young people. In a project funded by Emerging Minds, I found Naomi to be an articulate and reflective co-researcher. Joining us remotely, Naomi presented at The Emerging Minds Summit, University of Oxford, where her feedback and thoughts helped to disseminate our outcomes to an engaged audience. I found Naomi to be dedicated, commited, enthusiastic and professional and would not hestitate to recommend her or to work with her on future projects.
Julia Ruppert, MA, MSc., HCPC Registered Art Therapist, Director, The Collective Arts Group CIC