BIGSPD 2026 Early Bird Registration Is Now Open! The call for abstracts, award nominations and bursary applications is now also open. Click below to register today and secure your place at the early-bird rate. bigspd.org.uk/conference-2...

The 4th annual Henderson Heritage Group 'Experiences in Communities' public event: Friday 10 October 6-8pm THE event of the autumn in the world of #democratictherapeuticcommunities and #activistresearch - tickets available now! ❤️‍🔥 #survivor #practicesofequality www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1440614559... ❤️

For a presentation… Have you got an example of a Health Care Assistant or Support Worker doing something amazing? A great example of relational practice? A “going above and beyond” example? I want to make a collage so tell me if you don’t want your name attached. Do share!

I meant to post this a couple of weeks ago! I’m officially an elf! Massive thanks to @thementalelf.bsky.social and to @elliewildbore.bsky.social for letting me borrow hers #BIGSPD25

Date for your diary #BIGSPD25! The 2026 @bigspd.bsky.social conference will be in Blackpool #BIGSPD26 16-18 June 2026 Sign up later in the year on the BIGSPD website so you don't miss the announcements when they come later this year: bigspd.org.uk/conferences-...

So you might have seen I’ve won an elf… for seemingly 1 skeet… I’ve been using another account! I promise! 😳 #BIGSPD25

Gosh, it is a busy conference so far!!! Currently in the Derby room listening to Mersey Care take us through how their resettlement and reintegration programme works with a role play of how some of their relationships work. #BIGSPD25

@mickmckeown24.bsky.social We can’t build relationships by hiding in offices and behind screens. Data collection isn’t more important than relationships. Mick talks of how half of the work we do day to day actively gets in the way of relationships and causes alienation. #BIGSPD25

@mickmckeown24.bsky.social reminds us of ‘raucous rebellion’ #BIGSPD25

Now @hoppypelican.bsky.social and @thementalelf.bsky.social are talking about how to take the conference beyond the room. We are going to use the hashtag #bigspd25 so you can follow along but….get your ideas in here too. Ask us questions. Add your comments. 😊

Brilliant looking forward to connecting with you and the elves and sharing the conference beyond the room 🙌 #BIGSPD25

Please do come along to this event, share and grow your research ideas, hear from people who may be able to support and guide you. The place were 'acorns can grow into oak trees'. So excited to see this back over a decade since it was first hosted at conference #BIGSPD25

Our executive committee are ready to start our annual pre-conference exec meeting ready for our opening of conference this afternoon! #BIGSPD25

Excited for #BIGSPD25 @bigspd.bsky.social this week, first day today in Liverpool

In the pre conference @bigspd.bsky.social exec meeting. Lots of excitement about the programme for the annual conference for the biggest BIGSPD so far with 585 delegates Co President @garylamph.bsky.social is especially excited about welcoming our delegates to fantastic Liverpool. #bigspd25

It’s official, this is the BIGGEST ever BIGSPD with 585 delegates, with 45 of those being free residential LX bursary places. Amazing how this conference has grown and evolved over the past 26 years. #BIGSPD25

@bigspd.bsky.social #bigspd25

And the #BIGSPD25 pre meeting has finished. For the first time ever it has taken place in a Sceptre/Dr Evil style room that many people think we always meet in. Conference proper begins soon 😬

Getting ready for our opening conference address! #BIGSPD25

The stage is set, the delegates are registering and having lunch, looking forward to opening #BIGSPD25 with Fi shortly

Remember to follow and use the hashtag #BIGSPD25 to stay up to date with all live reporting and discussion covering conference this week!

Our delegates are taking their seats and we’re awaiting the first ever opening address from @fik-t.bsky.social & @garylamph.bsky.social as they begin their first ever conference as co-presidents! #BIGSPD25

Arrived at #BIGSPD25 ready for Day 1 of the conference. Saw lots of familiar faces already & can’t wait to catch up with everyone. Keep up with the # to find out what’s been happening 😊

Gary is describing Liverpool as a melting pot that prides itself as a friendly and inclusive city, but with a history of exploitation (slavery, privacy). #BIGSPD25

There are 585 people at #BIGSPD25 this year, says Fi. "Pace yourself" is her recommendation - it's gonna be full on. But of course it will also be wonderful , invigorating, inspiring and fun.

Really looking forward to the BIGSPD oven. This is a place where you can connect with people to help build your ideas and make them a reality! Research ideas, service design, PhD funding, etc - it could all happen here! #BIGSPD25

So my first every Bluesky post, excitedly awaiting this years 2025 @bigspd.bsky.social conference #BIGSPD25 not sure if it's the correct hash tag. But going to try to connect on here this year alongside my x account @gazlamph please do connect 🙌

#BIGSPD25 is a 3-day event, ending at lunchtime on Thursday, with 6 keynote talks, 8 workshops & 25 short talks on #ComplexEmotionalNeeds #PersonalityDisorders #LivedExperience #BPD #Autism #CriminalJustice #OPD #RelationalPractice #Psychotherapies #Leadership #Training +++

The new @bigspd.bsky.social Co-Presidents @garylamph.bsky.social and @fik-t.bsky.social are welcoming everyone to the event, which is in Liverpool this year. This is my 5th year at BIGSPD and I'm looking forward to hearing about the latest work and research. #BIGSPD25

Here's the #BIGSPD25 programme. As you can see there's the usual mix of keynotes, workshops and short talks from people with lived experience, clinicians, practitioners and researchers bigspd.org.uk/wp-content/u...

We're mostly focusing on Bluesky this year, although there will be some posts too on LinkedIn, Instagram and other platforms. The hashtag is #BIGSPD25

Hello everyone! A very warm elfin welcome to the 2025 Annual Conference of the British and Irish Group for the Study of 'Personality Disorders' @bigspd.bsky.social ‬ ⭐️ #BIGSPD25 ⭐️ I'm André from the Mental Elf and I'm live reporting all week... 🧵 THREAD

Our crack team of #BeyondTheRoom correspondents, includes @hoppypelican.bsky.social @keirwales.bsky.social @sarahpsyc.bsky.social @elliewildbore.bsky.social @squarepegsuk.bsky.social @drarghyasarkhel.bsky.social @kellythepsych.bsky.social #BIGSPD25

It’s starting!!! First ever opening address from new co-presidents @garylamph.bsky.social & @fik-t.bsky.social #BIGSPD25

Our delegates are having lunch and registering and we’re getting ready for the conference opening address at #BIGSPD25 Remember to follow the hashtag to keep up to date with our live reporting!!

💡 Ready to get your idea in the oven? Sign up for the BIGSPD Oven workshop as soon as you get to Liverpool! #BIGSPD #MentalHealthInnovation #PersonalityDisorder #LivedExperience #Coproduction #ServiceDevelopment #ResearchToPractice

👥 The panel: @garylamph.bsky.social Co-Pres of BIGSPD & Reader in Mental Health Nursing, Keele Uni @hoppypelican.bsky.social Consultant LXP @oliverdale10.bsky.social Former BIGSPD Co-Pres & Chief Medical Officer, Sussex NHS Trust Dr Carine Lewis: Research & Data Lead, OPD Pathway

This format works. Last time, Dr Gary Lamph (now BIGSPD Co-President) pitched his PhD proposal and got backing that helped him move into academic research. This year, Gary is back on the panel, ready to support others.

🔥 What happens? You pitch your idea in response to 4 simple prompts: ‣ What’s your idea? ‣ What difference could it make? ‣ What support do you need? ‣ Why should the panel get behind you? You’ll get constructive feedback, encouragement & maybe even practical support to help you take your next step

Hosted by Tom Mullen (former Co-President of BIGSPD), this session brings together a panel of experienced and curious professionals who want to help others move their ideas forward.

Are you working on an idea for positive change in the personality disorder/complex emotional needs field? A research project, co-produced innovation, service development, or something that doesn’t quite fit the mould... The BIGSPD Oven is your chance to share it in a safe & encouraging space.

Really excited to be on the panel for this. Come and share your ideas! #BIGSPD25

Just trying to get stuff ready for #BIGSPD25 and it’s safe to say I think 50% of this I won’t even get out of the bag… BUT WHAT IF!???

🔔 Coming up at #BIGSPD2025: The BIGSPD Oven 🗓 Wednesday 11th June 🕜 1:30–3:00pm 📍 Limited to 40 delegates – small, supportive, and full of good ideas. Read the full THREAD to find out more 👇🏽 @bigspd.bsky.social

Our crack team of #BeyondTheRoom correspondents will be helping me report live from #BIGSPD25 👏🏽 @hoppypelican.bsky.social @keirwales.bsky.social @sarahpsyc.bsky.social @elliewildbore.bsky.social ‬ @squarepegsuk.bsky.social @drarghyasarkhel.bsky.social @kellythepsych.bsky.social

🚀 Turn your mental health research into real-world impact. 📲 We help researchers share evidence through social media, podcasts, videos, webinars and more. ⏰ Time for some #ElfHelp? www.nationalelfservice.net/disseminate-...

🚀 Latest #BIGSPD25 podcast - we tackle power imbalances & systemic racism in mental health services. Maxine Dennis shares her journey in psychotherapy, exploring the impact of racialization & the importance of genuine dialogue for real change. @bigspd.bsky.social youtu.be/03_rEwBc7n0?...

Are you interested in #personalitydisorder #complexemotionalneeds #complexPTSD or #neurodivergence then following @bigspd.bsky.social & keeping up to speed with live reporting from #BIGSPD25 could be for you! Not just a conference focused on ‘personality disorder’ but ways of understanding distress

This time next week we’ll be on Day 2 of #BIGSPD25 - a packed full day of such a wide range of speakers from lived experience, clinical, carer and academic backgrounds. Make sure you’re following our hashtag for so you can follow along what goes on at conference!