Lisa A. Conway uses lived experience to push for patient voice in mental health care

Lisa A. Conway, a social worker and mental health advocate in Elmhurst Township, Pennsylvania, is turning more than 30 years of professional experience and her own treatment history into advocacy for informed consent and patient-centered care. Her work includes a memoir, speaking, guided journals and community support focused on reducing stigma and expanding respect for patients.

Why it matters: - Lisa A. Conway is using professional and personal experience to argue for stronger informed consent in psychiatric care. - Her advocacy centers on patient voice, transparency and a more compassionate approach to mental health treatment. - The message matters because mental health decisions can carry lasting consequences for patients and families.

What happened: - Lisa A. Conway, a social worker, author, mental health advocate and speaker, was spotlighted by Influential Women. - Conway has more than 30 years of experience in social work, mental health advocacy and community support. - She is based in Elmhurst Township, Pennsylvania. - Conway earned a Master of Social Work from Marywood University. - Her early career included work with the County Board of Social Services. - She later worked in nursing homes, domestic violence programs, homelessness support services and hospice care. - As a hospice bereavement coordinator, Conway supported families for up to eight months after a loved one’s death. - She also supervised Master of Social Work students in field placements and was recognized for excellence in practicum education. - Conway speaks English and Spanish.

The details: - Conway says her own mental health treatment experience and lasting cognitive challenges from more than 100 electroconvulsive therapy treatments shaped her advocacy. - She wrote Shocked: Breaking the Stigma of Mental Illness and the Silence of Shock Therapy, a memoir that blends professional knowledge with lived experience. - The book promotes transparency, ethical practices and informed consent in psychiatric care. - Conway plans to offer guided journals, including Hope Notes, and personalized group mini-retreats focused on self-esteem, resilience and community. - Her advocacy has appeared through podcasts, documentaries, news interviews and mental health publications. - Conway says patients should understand the full range of possible consequences before making treatment decisions. - She says patients’ voices must be heard and respected. - Conway associates her work with the message: “SHARING STORIES CREATES CONVERSATIONS. CONVERSATIONS CREATE HOPE.” - She links hope to helping people facing mental illness and suicide risk. - Conway has volunteered with women’s shelters, homeless missions, food pantries, clothing and backpack drives, and has tutored children from low-income families.

Between the lines: - Conway’s profile combines public advocacy with firsthand experience, which gives her message added credibility for audiences weighing mental health treatment decisions. - Her emphasis on informed consent suggests a push against stigma and toward more patient-led care. - The mix of memoir, speaking and retreats points to a broader outreach strategy beyond traditional advocacy.

What's next: - Conway will continue expanding her advocacy through writing, speaking and service. - Her future work includes guided journals and group mini-retreats aimed at building resilience and self-esteem. - More information is available through her Influential Women profile.

The bottom line: - Lisa A. Conway is channeling decades of social work experience and her own treatment history into a campaign for more honest, humane and patient-centered mental health care.