Supporting past patients to develop their skills and develop work as experts by experience is the main focus of the CHCT’s Service User Involvement Fund (SUIV).

So we were delighted to fund past patients to attend the annual BIGSPD conference held this year in Belfast. The former outreach patient group had successfully presented at last year’s event and were keen to build on their success and extend their network.

Members of the group reflect on their experience:

‘ We were among over 500 delegates. It was our second year at BIGSPD and it was nice to be able to take in and engage without the worry of presenting a paper as we did last year. There were some incredible presentations and talks that really interested us this year, especially on the correlation between BPD/EUPD ( borderline personality disorder / CPTSD, autism and BPD, the stigma surrounding personality disorders, including self stigma. There was also a focus on trauma informed care, person centred therapy and connection, and compassion focused therapy.

“ There was an openness to all the talks and discussions, holding a space for lived experience voices, including our own. Having often been dismissed within the mental health system, we really appreciated the opportunity to speak to those who want to hear and value what we had to say, including about our Cassel experiences.

“ It is our Cassel experience that enables us to use our voices in an impactful and meaningful way via networking, writing and research. Networking has led to more opportunities to continue our lived experience work and  also raising awareness of the Cassel and all its work.

“Recently, we have enjoyed other opportunities to be part of the growing BIGSPD community. We had also recently presented at an online BIGSPD Community of Practice event, exploring the principles required for effective peer support. Here we delivered a presentation on peer support within Cassel treatment and how this has translated into our lived experience work and friendships, with challenges and benefits. Around 70 delegates attended, some of whom we were able to connect with in person in Belfast.

“I was really surprised at how well I was able to network and talk to so many people at the conference; other lived experience practitioners, nurses, prison officers, doctors, lecturers, consultants, therapists and clinical leads. It was also really nice to reconnect with people whom we had met last year and start to build a community of sorts, who all want to work in and around the diagnosis of personality disorders.”

“I am pleased I was able to push myself beyond my comfort zone, including using the opportunity to share the link to the Cassel centenary film trailer.”