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Making Sense of Voices

A one day Awareness and Information Day
For and About Young People Who Hear Voices
14 April 2015
St Peters Hall Carmarthen
9.30am to 4.30pm

An important event for anyone hearing voices, care for or in contact with young
people or children who hear voices
Research suggests that over 20% of young people aged 11-13, and 8% of older teens hear voices
that others people dont. Whilst often these experiences are transient or benign, for others they can
be confusing and distressing for the young person and those who seek to support them. However,
there is a positive and hopeful way of making sense of voices.
This day will explore how the Hearing Voices Approach, based on over 25 years of practice and
research, is being tailored to support children and young people to deal with distressing
experiences. In this approach, voices and visions can be understood as messengers - telling us
something important about the difficulties a young person may be having in their lives. Rather than
shooting the messenger, this approach helps people make sense of the voices in the context of
their life experiences. Ultimately, its about helping young people, and their supporters, to deal with
any troubling experiences and feel more empowered to live their lives.
Using examples based on the innovative Voice Collective project in London, a voluntary sector
initiative that works in partnership with CAMHS and other youth services to provide a combination
of peer support, creative workshops and individual/family mentorship, this workshop will:

Explore the experience of hearing voices and seeing visions in childhood and adolescence
Identify a range of potential causes and triggers
Explore the link between voices, emotions and difficult life experiences
Identify ways we can challenge stigma around voices and visions in schools youth services
Explore helpful ways of talking with young people about voices and visions
Identify a toolkit of practical strategies that can help young people cope with distressing voices
and visions.
Explore how peer support can be useful to young people who have these experiences
Hear from young people and family members who will provide some insights into their
experiences of hearing voices and what helped or hindered.

The day will be led by the internationally acclaimed trainer Rachel Waddingham who is a voicehearer herself and set up, and managed, the Voice Collective project between 2009 and 2015.
Rachel is also the vice-chair of ISPS UK and a trustee of Hearing Voices Network England.
Rachel will be supported by Paul Baker a co founder of the Hearing Voices Network, Intervoice,
Hearing Voices Cymru, and a Non Executive Director of the International Mental Health
Collaborating Network (IMHCN). Hywel Davies Chair of Hearing Voices Cymru, Director of IMHCN,
John Stacey IMHCN.
There will be young people and family members who will also provide some insights into their
experiences of hearing voices and what helped or hindered.
This event is suitable for:
Young People and Children voice hearers.
Family members and friends of voice hearers.
Health and Social Care Professionals
Mental Health Services
CAMHS Services
Service Managers
Voluntary Services
General and Higher Education (Schools, Colleges and Universities)
Private Service Providers
Education Psychologists
Probation
Substance Misuse Services
For more information and to book a place please contact John Stacey johns@imhcn.org or
07968238218