Shannon Harwood

Shannon Harwood is currently employed as an early career Researcher and project Coordinator at the University of Tasmania – Tasmanian Centre for Mental Health Innovation, current project includes  No Body Left Behind, investigating effective physical health interventions in Public Mental Health Settings for people experiencing mental illness, project as Tasmanian Project Coordinator, and as Lived Experience team member.

Shannon’s background incorporates learnings from direct lived experience of severe mental illness, as well as Lived Experience (LEx)  expertise in LEx  philosophy, advocacy, and workforce development.  Previously a lived experience practitioner in Public Mental Health Services (peer Support), and private Recovery coaching, her interests encompass lifestyle mental health care, hyperbolic tapering principles, and ketogenic therapies within the emerging field of Metabolic Psychiatry, having used such ketogenic therapy to effectively to achieve remission of  Bipolar 2.

Shannon is an Equally Well Ambassador, a member of the Australian Metabolic Society and  the Metabolic Collective (USA, focus on neurometabolic interventions in mental Illness) and in 2024 Shannon received  Metabolic Mind (link) Fresh Start Award for advocacy Metabolic Psychiatry.

Privately Shannon describes herself as a not-very prolific poet, who enjoys public performance, using the vehicle of poetry to create an emotional connection with an audience, often for the purpose of Lived Experience advocacy.