Too little attention is given to the families and carers of patients. This presentation shared a Gloucestershire programme of peer support for families. One of the questions asked blew my mind!
‘What is it that makes empathy and human compassion so absent from our services?’
Thoughts??

Final Plenary session for #bigspd26 was on the value of nature based interventions and meaningful activity and connections. Is anyone else thinking Occupational Therapy??
Great outcomes. Thanks for sharing. #thementalelf

@thementalelf.bsky.social lovely walk home from dinner last night. Beautiful sky with crescent moon and regulus star in alignment. #bigspd26 #thementalelf

Humour as a therapeutic tool?
Great reflective discussion around the use of humour in clinical interactions. Risky or Healing?
#bigspd26 #thementalelf

@thementalelf.bsky.social some downtime in the sunshine between presentations

When safe practice creates new risk: Great conversation around risk, acknowledging that organisational ‘safe practice’ policies and procedures increase risk!
Restrictions increase risk
Relationships reduce risk
#bigspd #mentalelf

Ad de Jongh
Very impressive insight on the impact and outcomes of trauma focused therapy: EMDR
4-6 days of intensive therapy results in recovery and removal of BPD diagnosis. 1% drop out.
Feeling sceptical.
#bigspd #mentalelf

Anette Jones NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria. Loved the messages and philosophy of A pathway is a conversation; A pathway is not defined by the services within it but by the experiences people have moving between them; DBT provides the framework, relationships bring it to life.

#bigspd #mentalelf

Thanks to Gary Lamph for his warm welcome to BIGSPD 2026 and to Blackpool, home of the artificial sun illuminations and the Eiffel Tower. #bigspd #mentalelf

The BIGSPDers are gathering in Blackpool for 3 days of talks, workshops and conversation about trauma, mental health, neurodiversity, lived experience and complex emotional needs.

Follow #BIGSPD26 from 1.30pm today. I’ll be reporting live.

Full programme 👇🏽
bigspd.org.uk/conference-2...

There’s a buzz in the air in our exec pre conference meeting!

We’ll be sharing content across a range of socials inlcuding here and LinkedIn follow us along with the hashtag #BIGSPD26

Registration is open in the foyer and our opening address will begin at 1:30pm
Welcome to Blackpool!🎡 🌊🗼

1 week to go to #BIGSPD26
Check out our Plenary Speakers below!
Registration is still open bigspd.org.uk/conference-2...

Last up for the talks were Susan, Zaby & Fiona discussing the work they’ve done in the Glasgow region to co-produce & co-deliver training in BPD across services.

I know it was enthralling as I hardly made any notes just reflections 😊 #BIGSPD25

It was frustrating to hear of the experiences we so frequently hear about for those using services. However Zaby & Fiona reframed it from their own lived experience - that more often than not everyone (staff & patients) is protecting themself which limits relationships & connection #BIGSPD25

They described the training work & leaflet they had put together & delivered - now 84 trainings done with nearly 900 staff 😱 and the feedback has been positive as well as the impact in services (through staff polls & anecdotally) #BIGSPD25