Embedding lived-experience of mental health conditions in psychiatry education: From theory to international practice

Date: Monday 15 June
Time: 2.00pm - 3.15pm

Overview

Integrating the voices and experiences of people with lived experience of mental health conditions into psychiatry education is thought to transform how future clinicians empathise and engage with those they serve, as well as empower and give voice to those traditionally disempowered by the psychiatry system.

This symposium will explore how lived experience can be authentically embedded within psychiatry training—beginning with theoretical work designed to unpack the ‘why’ of involvement, through to practical examples of innovative practice and evidence-informed implementation across diverse educational contexts worldwide.

We will draw on examples from initiatives in the UK, Tunisia and Croatia. A varied panel of lived experience educators, clinical educators, students and psychiatrists will share their insights into the challenges and benefits of working together to build a reflective, empathetic and inclusive work and study environment.

Presentations will examine key themes including:

  • Effective partnership models between educators, clinicians, and experts by experience
  • Ethical and practical considerations in integrating lived experience into teaching
  • The impact of clinicians/students sharing their own mental health narratives on attitudes, stigma reduction, and clinical practice
  • Lessons learned from global perspectives on adaptability to low and middle-income countries
  • This session aims to provide psychiatrists and educators with both inspiration and concrete strategies for advancing meaningful lived-experience involvement in their own teaching environments.
  • The discussion will highlight the transformative potential of collaboration and open dialogue between clinicians and those with first-hand experience of mental health conditions, and recognising that these groups are not always distinct.

In this session you will:

  • Delegates will learn the existing theoretical framework underlying lived experience involvement in health professional education
  • Understand innovative ways in which lived experience can be embedded within psychiatry education
  • Reflect on cultural differences and how these can be considered when seeking to embed lived experience in education
  • Reflect on the reality that psychiatrists and students will often have their own mental health issues and how these can be embraced within education to inform learning an build supportive learning communities

Speakers

  • Chair: Chair: Professor Subodh Dave, Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Derby
  • Embedding lived-experience of mental health conditions in psychiatry education: from theory to international practice
    • Professor Subodh Dave, Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Derby
  • Embedding lived experience in education in mental health: insights from a scoping review and narrative synthesis using normalisation process theory
    • Dr Leila Sharda, Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust, Lancaster
  • Embedding lived experience into the classroom though lived experience facilitators
    • Ms Zowie Forwood, Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Derby
  • Building collaboration with experts by experience in a low- and middle-income setting: the Tunisian experience
    • Dr Hend Jemli, Psychoeducation and Psychotherapy Unit, Psychiatry Department A, Razi Teaching Hospital, Tunisia
  • Claiming our narrative: lived experiences among medical students
    • Mr Hadid Diamee, University of Rijeka, Croatia
Register for Congress 2026

Please email congress@rcpsych.ac.uk or call 020 8618 4120 with any enquiries.