The Mental Elf

Relational Practice: making hope possible rather than despair convincing. Join André from The Mental Elf for episode two of the BIGSPD 2025 Podcast as he discusses relational practice and democratic mental health with Professor Mick McKeown. Mick is a mental health nurse academic who shares his insights on the intersection of sociology, philosophy, and politics in mental health. In this episode, you'll learn about the key themes of his upcoming keynote talk at the British and Irish Group for the Study of Personality Disorder Conference, the importance of relational practice, and the role of democracy in combating authoritarianism. Mick also touches on the impact of hierarchical and undemocratic practices on both patients and staff, and the potential of cooperative, democratic approaches to improve mental health care.00:00 Introduction to the BIGSPD 2025 Podcast 01:08 Meet Professor Mick McKeown 01:49 Exploring Relational Practice 02:50 Democracy and Mental Health 05:10 Challenges in Mental Health Services 08:18 The Importance of Cooperation 11:25 Relational Practice in Action 14:27 Defining Relational PracticeFind out more about the 2025 conference of the British and Irish Group for the Study of Personality Disorders on their website: https://bigspd.org.uk/bigspd-conference-2025/

Exploring DBT: Techniques, Efficacy, and Lived Experience #BIGSPD25Welcome to episode 1 of the BIGSPD 2025 podcast, hosted by André from the Mental Elf. This episode dives deep into Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) with guest experts Professor Michaela Swales, Programme Director at the North Wales Clinical Psychology Programme, and Jenifer Dylan, an Advanced Lived Experience Practitioner and DBT Therapist. Together, they explore the success, challenges, and future of DBT, discussing various psychotherapies for personality disorders, evidence for DBT's effectiveness, and the roles of therapists with lived experience. Tune in to learn how DBT works, real-life applications, and the importance of tailored therapeutic approaches. Join us for an insightful conversation and stay updated on the latest research and practices in mental health.00:00 Welcome to the BIGSPD25 Podcast00:27 Meet the Experts: Michaela Swales and Jenifer Dylan01:09 Understanding DBT and Other Psychotherapies05:23 The Efficacy and Safety of DBT08:01 Introduction to DBT: Basics and Skills12:26 DBT in Practice: Real-Life Applications18:22 Adapting DBT for Diverse Needs24:32 The Role of Lived Experience in Therapy31:59 Improving Clinical Care in DBT35:08 Conclusion and Upcoming EventsFind out more about the 2025 conference of the British and Irish Group for the Study of Personality Disorders on their website: https://bigspd.org.uk/bigspd-conference-2025/

In the final episode of the 2025 IoPPN Research Festival podcast, André from The Mental Elf welcomes Dr. Darren Williams from Kings College London to discuss the upcoming festival. Dr. Williams shares insights into the diverse range of topics and speakers that will be featured, including presentations on religious cognition, autism, and the transformative effects of AI in medicine. He also emphasises the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and how this is supported at King's College London. The festival theme 'Bridging Disciplines: Brain to Behavior,' promises to be a comprehensive showcase of research from molecules to lived experiences of trauma. Tune in to get a sneak peek of this not-to-be-missed event!00:00 Introduction and Welcome00:24 Meet Dr. Darren Williams00:50 The Diversity of the Research Festival01:46 The Role of the Research and Innovation Committee03:42 Event Details and Highlights04:01 Exciting Plenary Sessions08:24 Interdisciplinary Collaboration in Mental Health Research10:01 Challenges and Opportunities in Research12:48 Conclusion and Upcoming EpisodesThis year, The Mental Elf will be reporting live from the IoPPN Research Festival on Bluesky, so if you can't make it in person, you can still follow along using the hashtag #IoPPNfestival: https://bsky.app/hashtag/IoPPNfestival

Welcome to episode 2 of the 2025 IoPPN Research Festival Podcast! In this episode, André from The Mental Elf speaks with Professor Juliet Foster, Professor of Social Psychology from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at King's College London, where she is also the Dean of Education and academic lead for student mental health and wellbeing. Juliet is giving a keynote talk at the upcoming IoPPN Research Festival. The conversation delves into the 'Whole University Approach to Mental Health and Wellbeing,' a sociocultural methodology addressing the rising demand for mental health support services in universities. Juliet emphasises the importance of considering the entire university environment, including teaching, social, and physical aspects, in enhancing mental health. The discussion also critiques the 'crisis' narrative around student mental health and highlights the need for better data quality and longitudinal studies. Learn about practical implementations at King's College and the importance of a unified measurement system to improve students' and staff's well-being. 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast 00:21 Introducing Professor Juliet Foster 01:30 Understanding the Student Mental Health Crisis 05:28 The Whole University Approach Explained 08:51 Practical Changes at King's College 10:12 Research and Measurement in Student Mental Health 12:42 Future Research Priorities 14:03 Conclusion and Upcoming Events

The Mental Elf previews the NHS Research Scotland Mental Health Network Annual Scientific Meeting with Dr. Rob Waller, Consultant Psychiatrist from NHS Lothian. They discuss the rapid digital transformation in NHS mental health services triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly the implementation of video consultations and electronic records in CAMHS. Dr. Waller shares his insights on overcoming hardware and software challenges, enhancing data accessibility, and utilizing clinical data for research and service improvements. The conversation touches on the importance of multidisciplinary approaches, the impact of technology on patient care, and the role of AI and big data in mental health research. Join us to explore the intersection of technology and mental health care and learn about the potential benefits for clinicians and researchers.00:00 Introduction to the NHS Research Scotland Mental Health Network Annual Scientific Meeting00:30 Impact of the Pandemic on Digital Transformation in NHS Lothian02:05 Challenges and Solutions in Digital Record Keeping04:23 National and Local Perspectives on Digital Health Services06:10 Lessons from New Zealand and Structured Digital Transformation09:51 Developing and Implementing Digital Forms17:01 Monitoring and Improving Digital Health Practices23:19 The Role of DataLoch in Mental Health Research34:49 Hopes for the ConferenceFind out more:Digital capability framework for NHS ScotlandLeadership development programmeDataLoch: their trusted data repository for research

Join Douglas Badenoch and Prof. Deborah Cairns from the Scottish Learning Disabilities Observatory as they delve into the health disparities faced by those with learning disabilities. In this podcast preview, Deborah shares groundbreaking research findings from comprehensive health checks, cancer studies, and big data analysis. Learn how collaborative efforts in the medical field are driving changes to improve healthcare access and outcomes for individuals with learning disabilities. Don't miss the insightful discussion on November 7th at the NHS Research Scotland Mental Health Annual Scientific Meeting in Edinburgh. Follow our live coverage using the hashtag #NRSMH24.

This Mental Elf podcast is part of the NHS Research Scotland Mental Health Network's Annual Scientific Meeting, 7th November 2024. Host Douglas speaks with Dr. Veenu Gupta, Assistant Professor at Durham University, about the burgeoning role of the Lived Experience Workforce in mental health research. Dr. Gupta, who has personal experience with psychosis, shares insights into how lived experiences inform and shape research, training, and clinical practices.The discussion delves into the historical context of lived experience roles, the challenges and benefits of integrating personal experiences with professional work, and the various roles within the lived experience workforce. Dr. Gupta also highlights findings from her PhD research, emphasising the importance of support, supervision, and balancing the power dynamics in research settings.Tune in to learn about the evolution, current landscape, and future directions of lived experience roles in mental health research, as well as practical advice for both researchers and lived experience professionals.00:00 The Evolution of Lived Experience Roles in Mental Health Research00:34 Meet Dr. Veenu Gupta02:16 Veenu's Journey and Research Focus05:24 Challenges and Evolution in Lived Experience Roles08:08 Historical Context of Lived Experience Work12:18 Different Lived Experience Roles15:54 Support Needs for Lived Experience Researchers18:33 Future Directions and Support for Lived Experience Workforce21:37 Final Question: Advice for Researchers and Health Professionals21:46 Importance of Lived Experience in Research22:35 Balancing Power Dynamics in Research23:23 Challenges and Emotional Labour in Lived Experience Roles25:46 Introduction to Q Studies28:15 Feedback and Impact of ResearchFurther reading:Gupta, V., Eames, C., Golding, L. et al. Understanding the identity of lived experience researchers and providers: a conceptual framework and systematic narrative review. Res Involv Engagem 9, 26 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40900-023-00439-0Gupta, V., Eames, C., Bryant, A. et al. Identifying the priorities for supervision by lived experience researchers: a Q sort study. Res Involv Engagem 10, 66 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40900-024-00596-w

As climate change accelerates, so does the mental distress it causes. In this episode, we interview Dr. Elizabeth Marks and Dr. Kris De Meyer to explore the critical intersection between mental health and climate change. We discuss eco-anxiety - the difficult emotions caused by direct or indirect exposure to climate change - and consider to what extent such emotions should be considered a clinical disorder. We also explore the unequal burden of climate change across populations and how fear-based climate messaging can be unhelpful. The episode goes on to suggest strategies for addressing both climate change and mental health, such as the benefits of 'action-based storytelling’ and the potential of individual agency and collective action to confront these challenges in an uncertain and changing world. 00:00 Introduction 02:00 What is eco-anxiety? 04:54 Inequalities in impact of climate change 07:25 Media messaging around climate change 12:04 What can we do in response to climate change? 19:42 ConclusionDr. Elizabeth MarksSenior Lecturer, Department of Psychology, University of Bath Deputy Director, Bath Centre for Mindfulness and Community https://researchportal.bath.ac.uk/en/persons/elizabeth-marksDr. Kris De Meyer Research Fellow, King’s College London Department of Neuroimaging Visiting Lecturer, King’s College London, Department of Geographyhttps://www.kcl.ac.uk/people/kris-de-meyerDirector, University College London Climate Action Unit https://www.ucl.ac.uk/climate-action-unit/how-we-workProduction creditsThis podcast was produced by a group of PhD students from UCL. Huge thanks from the Mental Elf to the podcast team (in alphabetical order):Alex Martin, PhD student, University College London https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexmartin111/Annabelle Olsson, PhD student, University College London https://www.linkedin.com/in/annabelle-eveline-olsson-806b2214a/Jasmine Lee (Presenter), PhD student, University College London https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasmineleecy/Jehanita Jesuthasan, PhD student, University College Londonhttps://linkedin.com/in/jehanita-jesuthasan-0321851a3Oliwia Stecko, PhD student, University College London https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliwia-steckoRitika Chokhani, PhD student, University College Londonhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/ritika-chokhani