Vital Skills Summit 2026 - Durham
About this Event
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Understanding Human Experience: What Does It Take for a Human to Truly Reach Out? is a fully CPD-accredited summit held at the world-renowned Durham University, exploring the psychological, social and biological factors that influence whether people seek help, speak up, connect with others or remain silent.
With contributions from Professor Fuschia Sirois, Dr Michael Priestley and Dr Marco Bocchio, the event will explore common humanity, self-compassion, procrastination, gender norms, wellbeing, help-seeking, and emerging research into psychedelic and non-psychedelic treatments for depression, anxiety and mental health conditions.
Alongside academic insight, the summit will include lived experience of living with a mental health condition, offering a powerful human perspective on what it means to struggle, delay, withdraw, reach out and recover.
This event is designed for professionals who work with, lead, care for or support people, offering a deeper understanding of the experiences that sit behind behaviour and the conditions that make genuine connection possible.
Agenda
🕑: 09:00 AM - 09:30 AM
Welcome and Housekeeping
Info: Opening the summit, introducing the day’s theme, speakers, venue guidance, timings and key information to help delegates feel prepared, comfortable and ready to engage.
🕑: 09:35 AM - 10:30 AM
Exploring how gender norms shape wellbeing, communication and help-seeking
Info: Dr Michael Priestley explores how gender norms shape wellbeing, communication and help-seeking, why people may stay silent, minimise distress, or avoid support, and how safer spaces can enable people to speak openly, sooner.
🕑: 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Coffee Break
🕑: 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Exploring research into psychedelic and non-psychedelic drugs
Info: Dr Marco Bocchio explores research into psychedelic and non-psychedelic drugs, their potential benefits for depression, anxiety and mental health, and what emerging science may mean for future support and treatment choices.
🕑: 12:00 PM - 01:00 PM
Exploring common humanity, self-compassion and procrastination
Info: Professor Fuschia Sirois explores common humanity, self-compassion and procrastination, helping delegates understand how self-criticism, shame and delay can affect wellbeing, coping and reaching out for support.
🕑: 01:00 PM - 01:45 PM
Lunch
🕑: 01:45 PM - 02:05 PM
Skills in Action - ITU Psychosis and the lasting effects
Info: This 20-minute talk explores ITU psychosis through lived experience, sharing what it can feel like to face confusion, fear and altered reality in critical care, and the lasting effects this can have after hospital discharge.
🕑: 02:05 PM - 02:25 PM
Skills in Action - Mental Health and Young People
Info: Mental Health and Young People explores the pressures, identity challenges and emotional struggles young people face, and how trusted adults and services can better recognise distress, listen well and offer support.
🕑: 02:25 PM - 02:45 PM
Skills in Action - Resilience in a Changing World
Info: Resilience in a Changing World explores how connection, adaptability and purpose can help people navigate uncertainty, manage pressure and build sustainable strength in their personal and professional lives.
🕑: 02:45 PM - 03:05 PM
Skills in Action - The First Conversation
Info: The First Conversation explores how to respond when someone reaches out, including what to say, what to avoid, how to listen without rushing to fix, and how to help someone feel safe, heard and supported.
🕑: 03:05 PM - 03:35 PM
Coffee Break
🕑: 03:35 PM - 04:15 PM
Lived Experience of Mental Health Condition
Info: This lived experience talk explores what it feels like to live with a mental health condition, lose control to services trying to help, and navigate fear, vulnerability, identity and the need to be truly heard.
🕑: 04:15 PM - 04:45 PM
What do we do on Monday? Keynote Speakers Q & A
Info: A Q&A with all keynote speakers, offering delegates the opportunity to explore key themes, ask questions, reflect on the day’s learning and connect academic insight with lived experience and practice.
🕑: 04:45 PM - 05:00 PM
CPD and Final Remarks
Info: CPD and Closing Remarks brings the summit to a close, summarising key learning, reflecting on the day’s themes, and outlining how delegates can evidence their CPD and apply insights in practice.
Where is it happening?
GBP 150.00
