Nicola Rushent is a member of the Aberystwyth University Lived Experience Advisory Panel.

She brings lived experience of chronic and severe mental health difficulties, including complex post-traumatic stress disorder (cPTSD) with dissociation. She also lives with diabetes and hearing loss.

Nicola has over a decade of experience in patient and public involvement and engagement (PPIE) and lived-experience roles across education, research and the NHS. She has significant expertise in trauma-informed approaches.

Nicola has extensive lived experience of navigating NHS and private healthcare services, including mental health inpatient admissions and support from crisis, community and specialist services. This also encompasses contact with emergency services, social care and third-sector organisations. She has engaged with a range of psychological therapies and been supported by a wide range of professionals.

Her areas of particular interest and expertise include suicide, the relationship between mental and metabolic health, professional boundaries, parental/family mental health, meaningful coproduction, peer support and lived-experience leadership.

Nicola is committed to driving meaningful change by ensuring that services and practice are grounded in the realities of the people they impact.