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Congress Cultural Fringe

We have again put together a jam-packed programme of fringe events, all with the focus of allowing you to make the most of meeting colleagues and friends in person, in informal settings. Join us for our welcome drinks reception, a series of lunches and the Mindmasters quiz. Explore the full programme of events below.

Sunday 22 June

  • Come along to the venue and collect your badge to skip the Monday morning queues! Once you have collected your badge you will have full access to Congress and be able to walk straight in to the lectures on Monday morning.

  • Join us as we kick off our Fringe Programme with a welcome reception on Sunday 22 June, from 4.00pm to 5.30pm. This is a great opportunity to reconnect with colleagues and friends before the Congress begins. You can also collect your badge early, avoiding the Monday morning queues. What better way to start Congress 2025 with the chance to get ready for the exciting days ahead? We look forward to seeing you there!

  • Following yet another incredibly successful run in Edinburgh at the 2024 International Congress, we are pleased to bring the ever-popular Mindmasters Quiz to Wales for RCPsych International Congress 2025! Members from around the world will form teams to compete to become the RCPsych Mindmasters champions. Come along to find out who will be champions of RCPsych Mindmasters 2025?

  • Tuesday 24 June

  • Wednesday 25 June

  • Thursday 26 June

  • With the changing climate in print, digital media and AI, what does that mean for books? How are we keeping the publishing model alive in a digital age, and what is the impact on aspiring authors? We must consider how are we reaching audiences within psychiatric and academic research in the new age.  

    Speakers

    Chair: Professor Anne, University College Dublin, Dublin

    Dr Mariana Pinto da Costa, King's College London, London

    Professor Femi Oyebode, University of Birmingham, Birmingham

    Ms Jessica Papworth, Cambridge University Press

  • The climate and ecological crises are the greatest threat to human health and emotional wellbeing that the world is facing. This clear and current danger can provoke a range of complex emotional reactions such as anxiety, despair, hopelessness and anger.

    Daily life can provide few opportunities to talk about what our changing world means for us, our families, our social and cultural values, as well as our mental health and wellbeing. Join us in this taster climate café led by trained facilitators.

    We will provide a con?dential and welcoming group space to connect with others and share thoughts, feelings and reactions related to the climate and ecological crisis. The Café is an advice-free zone and doesn’t advocate speci?c actions, but instead provides an opportunity to re?ect and engage.

    No previous knowledge is necessary, and you can share as little or as much as you feel comfortable. By coming together, we know that we are not alone, and can start to think about how we might take on this challenge that we are all facing.

  • In this hands-on session, we’ll explore the ancient art of natural cordage—learning how to transform stinging nettles into strong, beautiful string.
     
    The process of making cordage invites us to slow down, engage our hands, and reconnect with traditional knowledge rooted in relationship with the land. From stripping and softening the fibers to twisting them into usable thread, each stage is a practice in patience, presence, and care.
     
    Working with nettle—often overlooked as a weed — we uncover its strength, versatility, and deep ecological value. This is more than a craft; it's a sensory, embodied experience that invites mindfulness and grounded attention.
     
    Participants will leave with their own handmade cord and the foundational skills to continue experimenting with natural materials. 
     
    No prior experience is needed, just a willingness to get hands-on, work slowly, and listen to the quiet wisdom of the plant world.
     
    This session is ideal for those seeking to integrate nature-based skills into their practice or personal life, and for anyone curious crafts that foster connection, creativity, and respect for the natural world.
  • 12.55pm - 1.55pm SAS doctors lounge: Career development
  • 12.55pm - 1.55pm Students and resident doctors lounge: meet the College Officers

  • Join members of the Planetary Health and Sustainability Committee, Dr Katherine Witter and Dr Dan Harwood for a Nature Walk around the beautiful Gwent countryside adjacent to the ICC.

    Gwent is one of the most important areas for wildlife in the UK, a home to the shrill carder bee (the UK's rarest bumblebee), rootless duckweed (the smallest flowering plant in the world) the King Diving Beetle and a myriad of rare flowers and invertebrates. 

    The walk will fill your lungs with good air and introduce you to some of these special residents (although we make no promises about shrill carder bees, who are known to be rather elusive). We will be encouraging you to reflect and think about what ideas you could bring back to your service users, to help them access the natural world, learn from it and look after it, wherever you work.

    There will be a chance to ask questions of the facilitators, who have experience in nature-based therapy and to share ideas with the group. 

    We will meet at the entrance to the outside space, on Level 1 of the conference centre. The session will last around 1 hour and the walk itself will be around 45 mins

  • This session is part interview, part spoken word performance presented by Dr Devika Patel (ST6 General Adult Trainee) and Shocka a rapper with lived experience of mental illness. Devika and Shocka met on Instagram after sharing the same passion of wanting to use social media to reduce mental health stigma and improve the conversation around serious mental illness. After being sectioned three times and being diagnosed with schizophrenia Shocka made his life mission to use his music to help others. He has since written a book “A Section of my life” and recently released an album “Vulnerability is the new cool” to raise awareness of mental illness . In this part interview/ part performance session, Dr Devika Patel an ST6 General Adult Trainee will have a conversation with Shocka about his experiences.  This session aims to share hope and optimism around recovery and use the power of music to tell the important  stories of lived experience. This session is also a reminder that each patient comes with their hopes and aspirations and our aims are not just to get them “symptom free” but help them realise their dreams.

  • There is a lot of misinformation on the internet about mental health related conditions. Children and young people can be misled by this content. For instance, a study published in The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry in 2022, concluded that about 50% of the content that has been uploaded to the social media platform TikTok about ADHD was misinformation (Anthony Yeung et al, Vol 67, Issue 2)

    This session will explore how teen and young adult fiction portrays autism spectrum disorder, bipolar affective disorder, combat stress (now known as PTSD), the impact parental mental illness has on children, the impact of having an autistic child on families and the impact displacement can have on young people and the factors that promote resilience.

    We will be focusing on the following books:

    • The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and The Space We’re In
    • A Boy Made of Blocks
    • Hurricane Season
    • Stay Where You Are Then Leave
    • When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit

     

    Speakers

    Chair: Dr Margaret Murphy, Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, Medical Member of the Mental Health Tribunal, Clinical Advisor, Anna Freud Centre, London, Trustee, Place2Be

    Dr Caitlin Starbuck, Psychiatry Registrar, Canberra Health Services, Canberra, Australia

    Dr Isuri Wimalasiri, Psychiatry Registrar, Western Health, Victoria, Australia, Consultant Psychiatrist and Lecturer, General Sir John Kotelawela Defence University, Sri Lanka 

    Ms Emilia Pasternak-Albert, Fourth Year Medical Student, King's College London, London

    Dr Thushyanthi Peiris, Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, Canberra Health Services and Honorary Lecturer, School of Medicine and Psychology 

  • Join us for an evening of laughs and insights at our comedy event, part of the fringe programme at the International Congress! This "Bright Club" style event combines humor with brains, featuring stand-up comedy with a mental health theme. Volunteers will take the stage for 5-7 minutes to showcase their comedic talents, having been coached to develop their own scripts. Expect a mix of wit, wisdom, and a whole lot of fun. The headline act will be announced soon—don't miss out on this unique and entertaining experience!

    Facilitators

    Dr Sitki Anul Ustun, North East London NHS Foundation Trust, London

    Dr Simona Ionita, North East London NHS Foundation Trust, London

    Dr Su Mon Hein, North East London NHS Foundation Trust, London

    Dr Ozge Hisim, Cambridge and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, London

  • Join us for a 45-minute yoga session designed to help you unwind, relax, and reconnect during the Congress. This accessible, down-to-earth class is suitable for all ages and abilities - no experience necessary! Whether you're new to yoga or a seasoned practitioner, you'll find a space to breathe, stretch, and release tension. With 4 years of teaching experience, and currently pursuing a 300-Hour Advanced Teacher Training, Bryony Noble, your instructor, is committed to guiding you through a gentle, nurturing practice. It's advisable to bring with you a towel or yoga mat.

  • Beginner's Mind - noticing our experience as if for the first time, finding freedom in letting go of preconception

    Life step by step: a mindful exploration offers an opportunity to experience mindfulness meditation through mindful movement.  This is a series of three daily, brief, practical introductions to mindfulness; allowing us to reconnect with our senses and explore the space around us.


    The aim is to provide participants with a tool to touch base with calmness, self-compassion, keeping perspective, enhancing self-regulation and wellbeing whilst under clinical, social and personal pressure.  As psychiatrists taking care of our own emotional wellbeing is crucial, as we are faced with continued and increasing pressures within healthcare organisations.  

    Mindfulness-based intervention can have a positive influence on wellbeing of health professionals as reflected by NICE guidance (NG212 2022). 

    Florian Ruths and Joy Patterson have developed a taster programme of three 45-minute sessions to introduce psychiatrists to the ideas of mindfulness, and to explore these ideas while making use of our senses, through mindful movement.  The three sessions are different and can be enjoyed on their own or as a series. 

    Included in each session: experiential mindfulness practice, opportunity to reflect upon and discuss these experiences, and a breathing space meditation.  Experiential mindfulness practices will include mindful movement and mindful walking in outdoor green spaces, weather permitting.

    Speakers

    Dr Florian Alexander Ruths, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London

    Dr Joy Patterson, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, Belfast

  • This experiential session invites you to step outside into the rich, restorative world of nature. Rooted in the principles of nature-based practice and connection, we’ll explore practices that awaken the senses, calm the nervous system, and deepen presence.
     
    Through simple games and sensory-based activities, we will be gently guided into a slower, more attentive state—one that encourages embodied awareness, fun and spaciousness.  These practices are designed not only to restore personal wellbeing but also to offer tools that can be adapted to therapeutic or group settings.
     
    This session offers space to pause, connect, and recalibrate—physically, mentally, and emotionally—while deepening an understanding of how nature supports resilience, regulation, and relational presence.

  • As part of RCPsych's initiatives to encourage psychiatrists to prioritise self-care and support one another, experienced facilitators from the College's coach-mentoring group will explore the value of coaching and mentoring, both one-on-one and in groups, within peer support, training, and professional development. This interactive workshop offers an opportunity to reflect on personal experiences with coaching and mentoring across various career stages.

    The Masterclass objectives:

    • Have a go with practical skills in coach-mentoring - keep it fun, flexible and friendly!
    • Have better conversations - improve listening, questioning and reflective practice
    • Understand your personal and professional drivers - develop a growth mindset 

    The session highlights skills-sets common to coaching and mentoring, essentially relational skills that are familiar to psychiatrists; in this regard we invite psychiatrists to realise their 'inner mentor'!

    Speakers

    Dr Jeya Balakrishna, Associate Registrar for Coaching and Mentoring, 免费黑料网 and Consultant Psychiatrist, Defence Primary Healthcare, Ministry of Defence, London

    Dr Saleema Durgahee, Consultant Psychiatrist 

  • 1.40pm - 2.40pm Students and residents doctors lounge: portfolio online
  • 1.40pm - 2.40pm SAS doctors lounge: Leadership
  • Join us during the lunch break to meet members of our 15 College Special Interest Groups (SIGs) to learn about each group and meet with like minded individuals. This is an informal drop-in session with executive committee members available to chat and answer questions about their SIGs. Lunch will be served in the room
  • We would like to invite all MRCPsych Examiners attending the International Congress on Tuesday 24 June to our Examiners lunch. This is an opportunity to get lunch away from the crowds, meet fellow examiners and discuss new developments. Lunch will be served in the room.

  • Croeso (welcome)! Wales is home to two official languages, Welsh and English. It is recognised that all patients and their families should be able to receive healthcare services through the medium of Welsh. This helps to increase their understanding and makes them feel safe and at ease with medical professionals. Over the past 12 months, the 免费黑料网 Wales has been working with the National Centre for Learning Welsh to create opportunities for psychiatrists to improve their Welsh skills and support their confidence in using Welsh in the workplace. With Congress taking place in Wales for the first time, join us at this unique fringe event to sample a bit of Welsh for yourself and to hear about resources to support your continued learning. 

    Croeso! Mae Cymru yn gartref i ddwy iaith swyddogol, Cymraeg a Saesneg. Cydnabyddir y dylai pob claf a’u teuluoedd allu derbyn gwasanaethau gofal iechyd trwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg. Mae hyn yn helpu i gynyddu eu dealltwriaeth ac yn gwneud iddynt deimlo'n ddiogel ac yn gyfforddus gyda gweithwyr meddygol. Dros y 12 mis diwethaf, mae Coleg Brenhinol y Seiciatryddion Cymru wedi bod yn gweithio gyda’r Ganolfan Dysgu Cymraeg Genedlaethol i greu cyfleoedd i seiciatryddion wella eu sgiliau Cymraeg a chefnogi eu hyder i ddefnyddio’r Gymraeg yn y gweithle. Gyda’r Gyngres yn cael ei chynnal yng Nghymru am y tro cyntaf, ymunwch ? ni yn y digwyddiad ymylol unigryw hwn i flasu ychydig o Gymraeg ac i glywed am adnoddau i gefnogi eich dysgu. 

    Facilitators / Trefnwyr

    RCPsych Wales and the National Centre for Learning Welsh / CBSeic Cymru a'r Ganolfan Dysgu Cymraeg Genedlaethol

  • 1.40pm - 2.40pm Outdoor sketching workshop

  • Join members of the Planetary Health and Sustainability Committee, Dr Katherine Witter and Dr Dan Harwood for a Nature Walk around the beautiful Gwent countryside adjacent to the ICC.

    Gwent is one of the most important areas for wildlife in the UK, a home to the shrill carder bee (the UK's rarest bumblebee), rootless duckweed (the smallest flowering plant in the world) the King Diving Beetle and a myriad of rare flowers and invertebrates. 

    The walk will fill your lungs with good air and introduce you to some of these special residents (although we make no promises about shrill carder bees, who are known to be rather elusive). We will be encouraging you to reflect and think about what ideas you could bring back to your service users, to help them access the natural world, learn from it and look after it, wherever you work.

    There will be a chance to ask questions of the facilitators, who have experience in nature-based therapy and to share ideas with the group. 

     We will meet at the entrance to the outside space, on Level 1 of the conference centre. The session will last around 1 hour and the walk itself will be around 45 mins

  • 5.30pm - 6.45pm Film screening - short drama based on lived experience that explores Father’s mental health followed by a Q&A

  • Chair: Professor Kenneth Kaufman, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, USA

    Celebrating a decade of excellence - BJPsych Open by the numbers

    Kenneth Kaufman, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, USA and Ms Anna Munks, 免费黑料网, London

    Research methods and trajectories of recovery in disasters, terrorism and COVID-19

    Professor Richard Williams, University of South Wales, Pontypridd

    Depression and mortality - building our understanding of changing trends

    Professor Anne Doherty, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland

    Enduring issues in psychotherapy research: negative effects and regulations

    Associate Professor Valentina Cardi, University of Padova, Padova, Italy

    Antipsychotics following remission in first episode psychosis - maintenance versus discontinuation

    Professor Stephen Lawrie, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh

  • Join us for an inspiring and interactive dance session at the Congress Hosted by Navratna, a group of women healthcare professionals who are passionate about dancing and promoting wellbeing, this session invites you to watch a performance, learn some dance steps, and dance along to a vibrant mix of South Asian, European, and Western music. Through the power of dance, we aim to inspire and motivate attendees to explore non-clinical interests, fostering physical and emotional wellbeing long after the Congress. With our diverse backgrounds as doctors, parents, and community members, we hope to bring a sense of belonging and joy to all. Join us in celebrating life, connection, and cultural unity through the art of dance! No previous experience is required!

  • The psychiatrist's mind - exploring attitudinal factors of non-judging, non striving, and finding compassion for ourselves in the midst of caring for our patients

    Life step by step: a mindful exploration offers an opportunity to experience mindfulness meditation through mindful movement.  This is a series of three daily, brief, practical introductions to mindfulness; allowing us to reconnect with our senses and explore the space around us.

    The aim is to provide participants with a tool to touch base with calmness, self-compassion, keeping perspective, enhancing self-regulation and wellbeing whilst under clinical, social and personal pressure.  As psychiatrists taking care of our own emotional wellbeing is crucial, as we are faced with continued and increasing pressures within healthcare organisations.  

    Mindfulness-based intervention can have a positive influence on wellbeing of health professionals as reflected by NICE guidance (NG212 2022). 

    Florian Ruths and Joy Patterson have developed a taster programme of three 45-minute sessions to introduce psychiatrists to the ideas of mindfulness, and to explore these ideas while making use of our senses, through mindful movement.  The three sessions are different and can be enjoyed on their own or as a series. 

    Included in each session: experiential mindfulness practice, opportunity to reflect upon and discuss these experiences, and a breathing space meditation.  Experiential mindfulness practices will include mindful movement and mindful walking in outdoor green spaces, weather permitting.

    Speakers

    Dr Florian Alexander Ruths, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London

    Dr Joy Patterson, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, Belfast

     

  • Founded in 2017, the Congress Run is a guided 5km jog for all abilities. Whatever your pace, this friendly event is an established highlight of the conference social programme.

  • This open and inclusive session will start with an introduction to the use of dance and creative movement in the enhancement of physical and mental wellbeing in a wide range of population groups. The session will be led by Dr Howitt who has a decade of experience leading dance and movement sessions with children and adults with learning disabilities, with early years groups, elderly people in residential homes, people with mental health difficulties and youth groups. 

    In the second half of the session, participants will be encouraged to consider their own unique body and the way it moves. We will work through a creative process which will encourage individuals to explore their own movement vocabulary, and use this to express themselves in response to music and other stimuli. We will explore the use of movement and gesture to express words, stories and emotions. We will then develop this practice by working together to connect and respond to others in the group. 

    Everyone is welcome to join this session which will encourage participants to respond to their own body and only engage in movements which feel comfortable for them. No movement background is required, and the session will be guided throughout. 

    Facilitators

    Dr Louise Howitt, Essex Partnership University Trust, Chelmsford

  • As part of RCPsych's initiatives to encourage psychiatrists to prioritise self-care and support one another, experienced facilitators from the College's coach-mentoring group will explore the value of coaching and mentoring, both one-on-one and in groups, within peer support, training, and professional development. This interactive workshop offers an opportunity to reflect on personal experiences with coaching and mentoring across various career stages.

    The Masterclass objectives:

    • Have a go with practical skills in coach-mentoring - keep it fun, flexible and friendly!
    • Have better conversations - improve listening, questioning and reflective practice
    • Understand your personal and professional drivers - develop a growth mindset 

    The session highlights skills-sets common to coaching and mentoring, essentially relational skills that are familiar to psychiatrists; in this regard we invite psychiatrists to realise their 'inner mentor'!

    Speakers

    Dr Jeya Balakrishna, Associate Registrar for Coaching and Mentoring, 免费黑料网 and Consultant Psychiatrist, Defence Primary Healthcare, Ministry of Defence, London

    Dr Ewa Wi?niewska Young, Mentoring Lead Northern and Yorkshire Division, 免费黑料网 and Consultant Psychiatrist, Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust

  • 1.10pm - 2.10pm Students and resident doctors lounge: meet the Chief Examiner
  • 1.10pm - 2.10pm SAS doctors lounge: meet the College Officers
  • As a senior Consultant Psychiatrist, Coach, Lifestyle Medicine expert, and national leader in wellbeing, Dr Sridevi Kalidindi has dedicated many years to supporting the mental and physical health of her peers. She is offering an invaluable, reflective, interactive, and creative session to fellow psychiatrists.

    Drawing on evidence-based neuroscience methods, Dr Kalidindi will guide participants through a period of deep reflection and intentional life planning. This will be achieved through a combination of interactive techniques, including mindfulness, visualisation, and motivational behavioral change.

    By the end of the session, participants will have a tangible representation of their life goals and purpose, inspiring them to make positive changes that enhance their wellbeing and support their professional ambitions, ultimately sustaining their careers in psychiatry. The joy and insight gained from this experience will leave a lasting impact, creating positive ripples that extend through all the people with whom participants engage.
  • Join us during the lunch break to meet members of our 13 College Faculties to learn about each group and meet with like minded individuals. This is an informal drop-in session with executive committee members available to chat and answer questions about their faculties.
  • In this hands-on session, we’ll explore the ancient art of natural cordage—learning how to transform stinging nettles into strong, beautiful string.
     
    The process of making cordage invites us to slow down, engage our hands, and reconnect with traditional knowledge rooted in relationship with the land. From stripping and softening the fibers to twisting them into usable thread, each stage is a practice in patience, presence, and care.
     
    Working with nettle—often overlooked as a weed — we uncover its strength, versatility, and deep ecological value. This is more than a craft; it's a sensory, embodied experience that invites mindfulness and grounded attention.
     
    Participants will leave with their own handmade cord and the foundational skills to continue experimenting with natural materials. 
     
    No prior experience is needed, just a willingness to get hands-on, work slowly, and listen to the quiet wisdom of the plant world.
     
    This session is ideal for those seeking to integrate nature-based skills into their practice or personal life, and for anyone curious crafts that foster connection, creativity, and respect for the natural world.

  • Join members of the Planetary Health and Sustainability Committee, Dr Katherine Witter and Dr Dan Harwood for a Nature Walk around the beautiful Gwent countryside adjacent to the ICC.

    Gwent is one of the most important areas for wildlife in the UK, a home to the shrill carder bee (the UK's rarest bumblebee), rootless duckweed (the smallest flowering plant in the world) the King Diving Beetle and a myriad of rare flowers and invertebrates. 

    The walk will fill your lungs with good air and introduce you to some of these special residents (although we make no promises about shrill carder bees, who are known to be rather elusive). We will be encouraging you to reflect and think about what ideas you could bring back to your service users, to help them access the natural world, learn from it and look after it, wherever you work.

    There will be a chance to ask questions of the facilitators, who have experience in nature-based therapy and to share ideas with the group. 

    We will meet at the entrance to the outside space, on Level 1 of the conference centre. The session will last around 1 hour and the walk itself will be around 45 mins

  • Join us for an intimate and evocative poetry reading as part of the fringe programme at the International Congress. This unique session will feature a selection of original poems that explore themes of personal reflection, cultural connection, and the human experience. Whether you’re a lover of poetry or simply looking for a moment of inspiration, this reading promises to be a thought-provoking and enriching experience. Don’t miss the opportunity to immerse yourself in the power of words and creativity.

    Speakers

    Chair: Professor Femi Oyebode, University of Birmingham, Birmingham

    Dr Amit Biswas, North East London NHS Foundation Trust, London

    Dr Sridevi Kalidindi, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London

    Professor Ananta Dave, NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board, Wolverhampton

    Dr Gayathri Thivyaa Gangatharan, Barts Health NHS Trust, London

    Dr Ayeyemi Obabire, Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust, Lancashire

  • Appreciating the good moments, and making every moment count - trusting, acceptance and allowing things to unfold in their own time

    Life step by step: a mindful exploration offers an opportunity to experience mindfulness meditation through mindful movement.  This is a series of three daily, brief, practical introductions to mindfulness; allowing us to reconnect with our senses and explore the space around us.

    The aim is to provide participants with a tool to touch base with calmness, self-compassion, keeping perspective, enhancing self-regulation and wellbeing whilst under clinical, social and personal pressure.  As psychiatrists taking care of our own emotional wellbeing is crucial, as we are faced with continued and increasing pressures within healthcare organisations.  

    Mindfulness-based intervention can have a positive influence on wellbeing of health professionals as reflected by NICE guidance (NG212 2022). 

    Florian Ruths and Joy Patterson have developed a taster programme of three 45-minute sessions to introduce psychiatrists to the ideas of mindfulness, and to explore these ideas while making use of our senses, through mindful movement.  The three sessions are different and can be enjoyed on their own or as a series. 

    Included in each session: experiential mindfulness practice, opportunity to reflect upon and discuss these experiences, and a breathing space meditation.  Experiential mindfulness practices will include mindful movement and mindful walking in outdoor green spaces, weather permitting.

    Speakers

    Dr Florian Alexander Ruths, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London

    Dr Joy Patterson, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, Belfast

  • Get ready to move, groove, and have fun at our Zumba class! No prior experience is necessary, and the class is open to all fitness levels. Led by Dr Shimrit Ziv, a Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist who is also a qualified Zumba instructor, this energetic session combines easy-to-follow dance routines with uplifting music to get your body moving and your spirits soaring. Join us for a lively and enjoyable workout that will leave you feeling energized and refreshed!

    Facilitator

    Dr Shimrit Ziv, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge

  • This experiential session invites you to step outside into the rich, restorative world of nature. Rooted in the principles of nature-based practice and connection, we’ll explore practices that awaken the senses, calm the nervous system, and deepen presence.
     
    Through simple games and sensory-based activities, we will be gently guided into a slower, more attentive state—one that encourages embodied awareness, fun and spaciousness.  These practices are designed not only to restore personal wellbeing but also to offer tools that can be adapted to therapeutic or group settings.
     
    This session offers space to pause, connect, and recalibrate—physically, mentally, and emotionally—while deepening an understanding of how nature supports resilience, regulation, and relational presence.
  • 1.10pm - 2.10pm SAS doctors lounge: Specialist roles
  • 1.10pm - 2.10pm Students and resident doctors lounge: meet the PRDC Officers

  • Join members of the Planetary Health and Sustainability Committee, Dr Katherine Witter and Dr Dan Harwood for a Nature Walk around the beautiful Gwent countryside adjacent to the ICC.

    Gwent is one of the most important areas for wildlife in the UK, a home to the shrill carder bee (the UK's rarest bumblebee), rootless duckweed (the smallest flowering plant in the world) the King Diving Beetle and a myriad of rare flowers and invertebrates. 

    The walk will fill your lungs with good air and introduce you to some of these special residents (although we make no promises about shrill carder bees, who are known to be rather elusive). We will be encouraging you to reflect and think about what ideas you could bring back to your service users, to help them access the natural world, learn from it and look after it, wherever you work.

    There will be a chance to ask questions of the facilitators, who have experience in nature-based therapy and to share ideas with the group. 

     We will meet at the entrance to the outside space, on Level 1 of the conference centre. The session will last around 1 hour and the walk itself will be around 45 mins

  • Join us for an exciting Chess Challenge as part of the fringe programme at the International Congress! Whether you’re a seasoned player or a newcomer, this event offers a fun and engaging opportunity to test your skills, connect with fellow attendees, and foster a collaborative, supportive atmosphere. It’s more than just a game, it's a chance to network, share strategies, and build meaningful connections in a relaxed and friendly environment. Don’t miss out on this intellectually stimulating challenge!

    Facilitators

    Dr Sitki Anul Ustun, North East London NHS Foundation Trust, London

    Dr Simona Ionita, North East London NHS Foundation Trust, London

Contact us

Email: congress@rcpsych.ac.uk

Phone: 020 8618 4120

Twitter:  and