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Why Lived Experience Training Matters Just as Much as Evidence-Based ApproachesIn the world of mental health, suicide prevention, and addiction recovery, evidence-based practices have long been held as the gold standard. They are backed by research, clinical trials, and statistical data—tools we need to understand the scope of challenges people face and the systems that impact them. But as the field continues to evolve, it’s becoming clear that lived experience training—education led by individuals who have personally navigated mental health struggles, suicidality, addiction, and systemic barriers—is equally vital.At Tangible Movement, we’ve learned that data alone doesn’t drive change—connection does.
Why Lived Experience Training Matters Just as Much as Evidence-Based Approaches
In the world of mental health, suicide prevention, and addiction recovery, evidence-based practices have long been held as the gold standard. They are backed by research, clinical trials, and statistical data—tools we need to understand the scope of challenges people face and the systems that impact them. But as the field continues to evolve, it’s becoming clear that lived experience training—education led by individuals who have personally navigated mental health struggles, suicidality, addiction, and systemic barriers—is equally vital.
At Tangible Movement, we’ve learned that data alone doesn’t drive change—connection does.
Lived experience training is rooted in first-person narratives. It involves educators who have been there—those who have survived, recovered, and rebuilt their lives—and now use their stories to foster empathy, understanding, and cultural competency in others. These educators bring heart to the science.
1. It humanizes the data
Hearing a statistic is informative. Hearing a story is transformative. Lived experience training puts faces and names to the numbers, reminding us that every data point is a real person with a real journey.
2. It breaks stigma
When someone stands in front of a group and says, “I’ve attempted suicide,” “I’ve lived with bipolar disorder,” or “I’m in recovery,” they are shattering shame by example. This vulnerability fosters open, judgment-free conversations that allow others to relate and feel seen.
3. It builds trust
For many people, especially marginalized communities, trust in systems is broken. But lived experience educators are often seen as peers rather than professionals “talking down.” This dynamic creates safer spaces for honest dialogue.
4. It increases engagement and retention
Research shows that storytelling increases knowledge retention. When audiences hear stories of resilience and recovery, they’re more likely to remember the training and act on it in real-world situations.
5. It complements, not replaces, evidence-based work
This isn’t either/or—it’s both/and. Lived experience gives context to evidence-based strategies. It enhances them with nuance and relatability. Together, they form a powerful combination that speaks to both the head and the heart.
Our trainings fuse both worlds. We offer evidence-informed frameworks enhanced by real-life narratives. Our facilitators don’t just talk about best practices—they live them. Whether it’s Suicide Prevention Training, Resilience Workshops, or DEIB education, we make sure our programs are not only credible, but relatable.
If we want to truly change hearts, minds, and behaviors, we must value lived experience as expertise. Because who better to teach us how to survive than those who already have?
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