Exploring Power Imbalance, Systemic Racism, and Dialogue in Mental Health. A conversation with Maxine Dennis for the 2025 BIGSPD conference.

Join André from The Mental Elf for episode three of the BIGSPD 2025 Podcast in conversation with Maxine Dennis, a consultant clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst. They discuss power imbalance, systemic racism in mental health services, and the role of genuine dialogue and self-reflection. Maxine shares her clinical experiences and discusses the complexity of supervisory relationships in mental health. Don't miss her keynote 'Containing the Containers' at the 2025 BIGSPD Conference in Liverpool. Tune in for an insightful discussion on fostering resilience and real change.

00:00 Introduction to the BIGSPD Podcast

00:26 Meet Maxine Dennis: Clinical Psychologist and Psychoanalyst

01:04 Exploring Clinical Work and Racialization

02:30 A Memorable Case Study

06:20 Building Trust and Addressing Power Imbalance

07:54 Upcoming Keynote: Containing the Containers

10:17 Impact of Black Lives Matter on Mental Health Services

12:15 Challenges in Achieving Systemic Change

14:05 Suggestions for Real Change

16:56 Reflections on Anti-Racism and Whiteness

20:54 Personality Disorders and Racial Disparities

24:13 Conclusion and Conference Details

Find 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/

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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 Practice

Find 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/

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Exploring DBT: Techniques, Efficacy, and Lived Experience #BIGSPD25

Welcome 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 Podcast

00:27 Meet the Experts: Michaela Swales and Jenifer Dylan

01:09 Understanding DBT and Other Psychotherapies

05:23 The Efficacy and Safety of DBT

08:01 Introduction to DBT: Basics and Skills

12:26 DBT in Practice: Real-Life Applications

18:22 Adapting DBT for Diverse Needs

24:32 The Role of Lived Experience in Therapy

31:59 Improving Clinical Care in DBT

35:08 Conclusion and Upcoming Events

Find 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/

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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 Welcome

00:24 Meet Dr. Darren Williams

00:50 The Diversity of the Research Festival

01:46 The Role of the Research and Innovation Committee

03:42 Event Details and Highlights

04:01 Exciting Plenary Sessions

08:24 Interdisciplinary Collaboration in Mental Health Research

10:01 Challenges and Opportunities in Research

12:48 Conclusion and Upcoming Episodes

This 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

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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

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Welcome to the 2025 IoPPN Research Festival Podcast! In this first episode, we hear from Professor Edmund Sonuga-Barke, a leading expert in developmental psychology at King’s College London. He introduces RE-STAR—a four-year, interdisciplinary research programme.

RE-STAR stands for Regulating Emotions – Strengthening Adolescent Resilience. It focuses on neurodivergent young people, such as those with ADHD or autistic traits, who are at higher risk of developing depression during adolescence.

Right now, we don’t fully understand:

• Who is most at risk,

• What factors increase that risk,

• Or the best ways to build resilience and reduce it.

RE-STAR aims to fill these gaps by studying how ADHD and/or autism traits, environmental stress, and emotional responses interact to shape the risk of depression in neurodivergent young people.

00:00 #IOPPN 2025 - Edmund Sonuga-Barke

00:11 Introduction and Guest Welcome

01:07 The Intriguing Title: ReSTAR

01:54 The Paradox of Translational Science

02:37 Philosophy of Science and Paradigms

03:05 Paradigm Flipping in Neurodevelopmental Research

03:05 The Shift to a Neurodiversity Model

03:26 Multidisciplinary and Participatory Approach

04:52 Challenges and Tensions in Multidisciplinary Research

06:19 Trust and Scaffolding in Research

09:05 Emotional Burden Concept

10:19 Developing School-Based Interventions

11:17 Digital Pathways and Whole School Interventions

13:17 Arts Practice in Interventions

14:10 Future Directions and Funding

15:42 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

The IoPPN Research Festival takes place in London on 14th May 2025. Free tickets are available here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ioppn-research-festival-bridging-disciplines-brain-to-behaviour-tickets-1289530092219

Find out more about the RE-STAR programme: Regulating Emotions – Strengthening Adolescent Resilience https://www.kcl.ac.uk/research/re-star

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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 Meeting

00:30 Impact of the Pandemic on Digital Transformation in NHS Lothian

02:05 Challenges and Solutions in Digital Record Keeping

04:23 National and Local Perspectives on Digital Health Services

06:10 Lessons from New Zealand and Structured Digital Transformation

09:51 Developing and Implementing Digital Forms

17:01 Monitoring and Improving Digital Health Practices

23:19 The Role of DataLoch in Mental Health Research

34:49 Hopes for the Conference

Find out more:

• Digital capability framework for NHS Scotland
• Leadership development programme
• DataLoch: their trusted data repository for research

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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.

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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 Research

00:34 Meet Dr. Veenu Gupta

02:16 Veenu's Journey and Research Focus

05:24 Challenges and Evolution in Lived Experience Roles

08:08 Historical Context of Lived Experience Work

12:18 Different Lived Experience Roles

15:54 Support Needs for Lived Experience Researchers

18:33 Future Directions and Support for Lived Experience Workforce

21:37 Final Question: Advice for Researchers and Health Professionals

21:46 Importance of Lived Experience in Research

22:35 Balancing Power Dynamics in Research

23:23 Challenges and Emotional Labour in Lived Experience Roles

25:46 Introduction to Q Studies

28:15 Feedback and Impact of Research

Further 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/s40900-023-00439-0
• Gupta, 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

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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 Conclusion

Dr. Elizabeth Marks

Senior Lecturer, Department of Psychology, University of Bath 

Deputy Director, Bath Centre for Mindfulness and Community 

https://researchportal.bath.ac.uk/en/persons/elizabeth-marks

Dr. Kris De Meyer 

Research Fellow, King’s College London Department of Neuroimaging 

Visiting Lecturer, King’s College London, Department of Geography

https://www.kcl.ac.uk/people/kris-de-meyer

Director, University College London Climate Action Unit 

https://www.ucl.ac.uk/climate-action-unit/how-we-work

This 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 London

https://linkedin.com/in/jehanita-jesuthasan-0321851a3

Oliwia Stecko, PhD student, University College London 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliwia-stecko

Ritika Chokhani, PhD student, University College London

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ritika-chokhani

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