Clinical Partners launches a lived experience video series for people navigating mental health and neurodivergence

A new video series launched today [1 October] aims to cut through the noise, stigma and confusion around mental health and to help people at every stage of navigating life with mental health conditions and neurodivergence.

The Real Life series, from independent provider Clinical Partners, combines genuine conversations, practical guidance and clinical expertise.

Created by people with lived experience, for people with lived experience- and supported by clinical experts- the series is designed to help individuals and families better understand their needs and explore practical strategies they can use in daily life.

The long-form videos come at a time when many people with mental health conditions such as anxiety or depression, or who are neurodivergent, are searching for trustworthy, reliable and expert information.

The Real Life series is made up of 47 long-form videos grouped into streams that deal with anxiety, depression, eating disorders, trauma, OCD and ADHD. Due to the complexity of mental health and how common it is to have co-existing needs, viewers can easily find the content that would be of most help for them at any particular time.

Clinical Partners experts share their insights from a range of professionals including a consultant psychiatrist and psychologists, a CBT expert and a specialist neurodiversity GP, alongside contributors articulating their lived experience.

CEO of Clinical Partners, Barny Guthrie, said: “Patients and their families often need more than a clinical explanation. They may need the words for what is happening in their lives and they may need reassurance that their experiences are real. In an age in which young people are turning to AI chatbots for advice and the public debate around mental health conditions and ADHD can stigmatise and cast doubt, we wanted to produce resources that can be a lighthouse. These videos are for people looking for real experiences they can relate to- supported by experts sharing their reactions and reflections. They are not designed to be swiped past but to create real connection with people who may be feeling quite alone with their worries.”

The videos were developed through a structured, trauma-aware process designed to ensure contributors felt prepared, respected and safe throughout production. Topics were shaped through patient workshops and learning from Clinical Partners' earlier lived experience-led initiatives, Autism Unlocked and Divergent Voices.

The result is a specialist-reviewed resource that healthcare teams can share with confidence. For NHS organisations, commissioners and provider partners, Real Life offers an accessible tool that can support waiting well initiatives, appointment preparation, needs-based support and wider patient communication, providing something practical to share when patients and families need more time, explanation and reassurance than a pathway alone can provide.

Episodes are being released on YouTube in stages over the coming months, enabling patients, families and healthcare professionals to return as new content becomes available.

To watch the series, visit: www.clinical-partners.co.uk/real-life