Both Sides of the system - Lived experienced and professional - addiction and mental health

Rosalyn Hennesy is a woman with lived experience of both mental health and lived experience of dependence of both drugs and alcohol. 

For 23 years she used any substance available to cope with a vast history of trauma and grief most of which she is still unravelling. Today she is approaching 5 years in “recovery”. 

She is also a trained mental health and drug and alcohol support worker and has been advocating for a reform on drugs for many years. 

In 2018 Rosalyn was involved in the Uniting Churches documentary “Half a million steps” and then moved to Sydney to become a lived experienced team leader on the Fair Treatment campaign. In this role Rosalyn had the chance to speak about her experiences and opinions in many capacities including panels, with parliamentarians, the general public. 

In 2021 Rosalyn became a co-founder of Public Health en Afrique and in charge of the mental health and drug and alcohol sector to advocate and raise awareness for women and children in Africa. Rosalyn is currently taking a break from volunteering due to her disability and health.

Rosalyn loves to openly discuss her views and believes that treatment for all should be made available. It makes sense not just for societal and humane reasons but economic reasons too. 

Jess and I welcome Rosalyn to Removing Addiction and strongly urge you to listen to this episode that offers a story of phenomenal resilience and love.

Jess and Mike xxx