Events

Conference announcement & Call for Abstracts 

School Of Applied Social Studies, Collective Social Futures, UCC and Critical Voices Network Ireland (CVNI)

In the context of ongoing concerns about how mental health systems engage with people in distress, the 18^th annual CVNI conference aims to explore diverse approaches grounded in meaning, values, connection and relationships.  Following on from last year’s conference on safe spaces, we aim to explore and discuss: 

• the significance of challenging the coercive nature of current practices
• the contribution of practices focused on meaning and dialogue
• the importance of connection and peer support

Keynote Speakers (in alphabetical order)

• Lisa Archibald, Director, Intentional Peer Support, Scotland
• Jennifer Hough, Human rights law researcher and Mad in Ireland editor, Ireland
• Liam Mac Gabhann, Community Activist & Mental Health Practitioner.  Dublin North, North East Recovery College & Dublin City University, Ireland
• Maura O’Donovan and Aidan O’Mahony, Home Focus, West Cork: Community-based mental health recovery and support team, Ireland
• Kellie Stastny, proud voice hearer, critical social worker, and Chair of the Intervoice Board, Australia
• Iseult Twamley, human, parent, psychologist, open dialogue trainer & Director of the International Institute of Dialogic and CoCreative Practice (INDICO), Ireland

Call for Abstracts  

Oral presentations/workshops of 45 minutes’ duration related to the conference theme and outlining its aims and intentions. Please email your abstract (in Word- 250 words max) and a brief bio (in Word - 150 words max) to l.sapouna@ucc.ie by 21 September 2026. Inquiries to h.gijbels@ucc.ie or l.sapouna@ucc.ie. 

Registration & Conference Details

Registration details, venue and conference programme to follow. 

The Conference organisers are Lydia Sapouna, School of Applied Social Studies and Harry Gijbels (retired), School of Nursing and Midwifery, University College Cork, Ireland.