Navigating the complexities of mental health conversations, especially within a community often underrepresented in research, posed its unique set of hurdles. However, these challenges were outweighed by the immeasurable rewards. The privilege of engaging in discussions with esteemed experts and stakeholders illuminated perspectives that are seldom heard, enriching the project’s tapestry with invaluable insights. Now add my own lived trauma and continued journey of recovery into the mix, it makes for a deeply personal endeavour fraught with danger and potential consequences.