First do good: Conference to explore damage caused by treatment in mental health practice

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On 8 and 9 November 2024, The Critical Voices Network Ireland (CVNI) looks forward to welcoming around 300 delegates to University College Cork for the 16th Annual Critical Perspectives Conference.

This free conference, now well established and valued both nationally and internationally, is organised annually by Lydia Sapouna from the School of Applied Social Studies and Harry Gijbels (retired mental health nursing academic), in partnership with the Critical Voices Network Ireland (CVNI). This year’s theme focuses on the principle of ‘First do no harm’, considered a key ethical principle in health and social care practices.

Over the years however, we have heard many accounts of harm caused by coercion, neglect, overmedication, adverse drug reactions, loss of dignity and agency from people who have used/are using mental health services.

Over the years, we have also become aware of professionals who are concerned about potentially harmful caregiving practices but are afraid to speak out. The term ‘iatrogenic harm’ articulates these concerns, referring to the damage caused inadvertently by treatment and care, including diagnosis, intervention, error, or negligence.  This conference aims to provide a space to explore issues of iatrogenic harm caused by mental health practices, seeking and sharing creative ways to move towards ‘First, do good’ practices.

Over the two days, there will be 6 keynote presentations and 28 presentations in 5 series of concurrent sessions, with presenters coming from different parts of Ireland, England and Scotland, as well as from Germany, Portugal, Australia and the Philippines. We are very honoured for presenters making the effort to travel to Cork to present their work.

In the 6 keynote presentations across the two days Pat Bracken will explore the current discourse on trauma; Mike Watts and Agnes Higgins will consider lived experiences on taking and coming off medications, and exploring complex issues around discontinuing medication; Charles O’Mahony, in drawing on the impactful work of the late Dr Fiona Morrissey, will offer a human rights’ critique of the Mental Health Bill 2024; Jacqui Dillon will explore the phenomena of iatrogenic harm: what is it, how is it caused what can be done about it; Mark Horowitz will consider how to safely stop psychiatric medications, drawing on the Maudsley Deprescribing Guidelines, which he co-authored; Avril Scannell & Deirdre Lillis will share some of our learning, thoughts, and questions as we come to the end of the conference and as we go forward.

The 27 concurrent presentations will explore a range of topics including: peer support, the reality of peer working, iatrogenic harm experienced by peer  workers; understanding how inadvertent iatrogenic harm may occur; minimising avoidable harm in mental health social care; overcoming Institutional iatrogenesis through the lens of human rights trauma informed approaches; harm revisited and healing together through podcasting & peer support; harmony, not harm; analysing the pervasive harm of psychiatric violence; psychedelic regulation and iatrogenic harm; the impact of Mad Studies on the c/s/x/m Movement; remembering the scholarship and advocacy of the late Fiona Morrissey; uncovering the emotional labour of involvement and co-production in mental health research; empowerment, self-determination and self-advocacy; seeing the order in the disorder; elevating trans voices; queering the language of dis/order; un/masking as the ‘wounded healer’; heal the trauma, not causing the trauma; the influence of lived experience voices in the policy and decision-making processes; involving lived experience in tapering neuroleptics research; dealing with the effects of late diagnosis; emotional first aid; AGM of Hearing Voices Network Ireland.

If interested in attending this free conference in person, email Harry Gijbels at [email protected] and make sure you give your name and indicate the day(s) you wish to attend (either Friday 8 November, or Saturday 9 November, or both days). You’ll receive a registration confirmation email by return.

If coming to Cork is not possible, then you may wish to register for the 6 keynotes presentations, which can be ‘attended’ online (£1 minimum donation) via this link:

Critical & Creative Responses to Iatrogenic Harm In Mental Health Practices

The conference details are regularly updated on the UCC School of Applied Social Studies  here and on https://cvni.ie/2024-2/

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