intervoice

Intervoice, commonly referred to as the International Hearing Voices Network, is an international umbrella organization and community for people who hear voices (auditory verbal hallucinations), their supporters, and professionals. The network grew out of the Hearing Voices Movement, which began in Europe in the late 20th century, and it links national and regional Hearing Voices networks with the aim of promoting peer support and shared resources.

Purpose and approach

Intervoice advocates for nonpathologizing, person-centered understandings of voice hearing. It emphasizes that voices can be culturally shaped, meaningful, and linked to coping, identity, and social context. The organization seeks to reduce stigma and to empower voice hearers through education, mutual aid, and collaborative engagement with mental health services.

Activities and structure

The network connects national and regional groups, facilitates international conferences, maintains online resources, and supports research collaborations. It provides forums for lived experience, disseminates guidelines and best practices for supporting voice hearers, and encourages professional and peer partnerships that prioritize safety and personal meaning alongside symptom relief.

Reception and impact

Intervoice has influenced community-based and patient-led approaches to mental health care and contributed to broader discussions about stigma, recovery, and empowerment. It also faces criticism from some clinical professionals who prioritize traditional diagnostic frameworks and standardized treatments. Proponents counter that the movement complements clinical care by reducing isolation and promoting collaborative, individualized support.

See also

Hearing Voices Movement; Auditory hallucination; Mental health stigma.