Listening to those who know: The Need for forming advisory boards with lived experiences in global mental health research

Abstract Global mental health research increasingly prioritizes cultural relevance and equity, yet the integration of lived experience remains limited, particularly in mental health research where social and cultural contexts shape distress and help-seeking. This commentary draws on longitudinal engagement with Youth Advisory Boards (YABs) and Community Advisory Boards (CABs) in Nepal, informed by roles spanning advisory membership to doctoral research. It highlights how advisory boards contribute across the research lifecycle, including shaping research questions, refining instruments, strengthening ethical practices, and supporting interpretation of findings. Notably, their involvement as co-analytic partners in qualitative research enhances contextual validity and interpretive depth through experiential knowledge. The paper also examines key challenges, such as navigating power imbalances, ensuring emotional safety, and addressing logistical and resource constraints. It argues that meaningful engagement requires sustained collaboration, transparency, and careful attention to relational dynamics, rather than tokenistic inclusion. Overall, the commentary positions advisory boards as essential to producing rigorous, ethical, and contextually grounded research, supporting a shift from extractive models toward participatory and co-produced approaches that enhance both scientific quality and real-world relevance in global mental health.