An award-winning artist, an advocate for Black Women and Non-binary people with ADHD and a highly regarded writer, broadcaster and psychoanalyst are just some of the people taking part in a day-long event devoted to the themes of Complex Emotional Needs (CEN), neurodiversity and personality disorder at east London’s Toynbee Hall on Friday 17 March.
Organised by the East London NHS Foundation Trust (ELFT), CEN Through the Lens aims to be a welcoming space where people can come together to have their voices heard, share their experiences, learn about ongoing projects that can be of support as well as find out about new ways to live better with a CEN condition.
Award-winning artist and writer Merlin Evans, who works therapeutically to support people’s mental health is facilitating art workshops on the day.
Vivienne Isebor, representing ADHD Babes, an organisation advocating for Black women and Non-binary people living with ADHD will be a panelist addressing disability and mental health, and Anouchka Grose, psychoanalyst, broadcaster and author of nine books, will be part of a panel discussing ‘What Kind of Therapies are there?’
Art workshops, panel discussions and taster sessions will be taking place across the day. It will also include stalls run by local community groups and charities.
Lunch is free, but people will need to register on the Eventbrite page beforehand.
ELFT Lived Experience Development Lead Sinéad McQuillan said:
“Although primarily aimed at people with CEN and personality disorder diagnoses, people with an interest in learning more about mental health are very welcome.
“We want everyone to work together to help overcome stigma and become active in reducing ignorance and misunderstanding about mental health and neuro-divergence.”
People can take a chance and turn up on the day, but in order to plan for numbers attendees are asked to register in advance.
Award-winning artist and writer Merlin Evans, commenting on what she hopes to bring to the event, said:
“I see the human body as a lived landscape of emotion and feeling.
“People don't need to have any prior experience of drawing or art making - they just need to relax and be open-minded on the day.
“We will be making our own brushes out of found materials, and exploring the wonderful relaxing properties of ink and mark-making.”
Register for the CEN Event on Eventbrite here.
The timetable of panels for the day is available here and the timetable for workshops is available here.
