I was recently a delegate at the Sligo Recovery Conference and wanted to provide some feedback.

The conference was exceptionally well organised and, given the huge over subscription / attendance, ran very smoothly. As a regular conference attender and speaker, I fully appreciate how tough it can be to keep events in sequence and time, so well done on that score.

Key to the success of the day for me was the high quality of presentations and the mix of English and Irish contributions. Also, I was delighted to again participate in a conference with a significant number of people with self experience – a mark of the fact that the times are definitely changing for the better as we do things together.

I have been working with recovery principles and practices for over ten years now, and have enjoyed watching my younger colleagues, many of whom would have had little experience working with people experiencing mental distress, become energised and excited by the endless possibilities. They too thoroughly enjoyed the conference and workshops.

Overall, the importance of this, and the other events, being so focused, well organised, and stimulating, is that this will bring absolute credibility to our recovery ‘movement’ and that will bring hope – more hope, and the culture change so much needed in mental health services, will gain more pace and momentum.

With very best wishes, and many thanks,

Mark Logan