People with lived experience of mental health conditions (PWLE) encounter significant obstacles when accessing
somatic healthcare services, contributing to higher morbidity and reduced life expectancy compared to the
general population. This research sought to identify the barriers and facilitators that PWLE face in accessing and
using somatic healthcare in Austria, with the goal of co-creating strategies to address current challenges.
Employing a participatory action research approach from the conceptualization and grant-writing stages and
reflecting the principles of “mental health trialogue,” this study involved a steering committee composed of a
person with lived experience, a family member of PWLE, and a healthcare professional. Based on World Caf´e
methodology, two co-creation workshops fostered open dialogue and collaboration among participants representing these three perspectives. Data were gathered through participant observation and systematic collection of
workshop contributions, which were thematically analyzed. A total of 52 participants, with 27 in the first and 25
in the second workshop, contributed to the study. Six overarching themes were derived: (1) Awareness among
healthcare professionals; (2) Accessibility and health facility design; (3) Structural diversity of services; (4) Lack
of care coordination; (5) Bureaucracy and material support; and (6) Societal awareness. Findings underscore the
need for systemic changes to address diagnostic overshadowing in somatic healthcare services, particularly
through the design of more inclusive services and the expansion of networking between and within PWLE and
their caregivers. Aiming to achieve health equity, this study provides specific policy and practice pathways to
counter diagnostic overshadowing and ensure PWLEs’ somatic health needs are adequately addressed.