Finding Our Own Solutions: Critical Perspectives and Responses to Human Distress

Thursday 12 & Friday 13 November 2026

School of Applied Social Studies

Collective Social Futures / ISS21

University College Cork, Ireland

and

Critical Voices Network Ireland

In the context of ongoing concerns about how mental health systems engage with people in distress, the 18th 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

Livestream & recordings

This Onlinevents ticket covers the livestream of the keynote sessions only, plus access to the keynote recordings in the Onlinevents CPD Library. Concurrent oral presentations and workshops taking place at University College Cork are not livestreamed and are not included in this ticket.

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

Registration

Pay What You Can tickets include livestream access to the keynotes and the keynote recordings in the Onlinevents CPD Library. Further registration details will also be circulated in late September 2026.

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

Description supplied by the event organiser.