Toucan and EDA Charity Present at International Conference with Innovative Peer Support Worker Programme
Pictured: Elaine Kirwan Director of Toucan (left) and Eve Kaye Project Manager at Toucan (Right)
Toucan (the West Midlands CAMHS Provider Collaborative), recently attended and presented at the 7th International Association for Youth Mental Health (IAYMH) Conference, held from 18th - 21st March 2025. This respected forum brought together 944 mental health delegates from 45 countries to discuss the future of early intervention and prevention for integrating youth mental health care models, with a strong focus on lived experience and innovations in peer support models.
IAYMH is a global membership organisation dedicated to reshaping the way youth mental health is understood and supported.
Elaine Kirwan, Director of Toucan, said: “ I feel very lucky. It was both a privilege and truly inspiring to see the impact that the lived experience voice has made, this was evident throughout the presentations and discussions at the conference. The positive response to our Peer Support Work Programme reaffirmed the important role they play in shaping more compassionate and effective mental health services for young people. We are proud to have our Peer Support Workers and lived experience at the heart of everything we do.”
The Peer Support Work Programme is a collaborative initiative between the Emotion Dysregulation Autism (EDA) Charity and Toucan, which launched in September 2024. This pilot service offers dedicated peer support workers with lived experience to help young people in hospital develop emotional regulation skills, build relationships, and transition back into the community. The programme aims to reduce readmissions and improve long-term outcomes.
Following the Programme’s workshop at the conference, delegates praised its role in supporting young people with often the most complex and severe mental health challenges. The Programme’s abstract was selected for a full-day poster presentation, allowing for direct engagement for showcasing the work with attendees.
Zaynab Sohawon, CEO of Emotion Dysregulation Autism Charity, said: “It was a privilege to present alongside Toucan at such an impactful event at IAYMH. Seeing and speaking to lots of representatives from all across the world made me realise how unique and innovative the work at EDA is. Toucan and EDA are trailblazing in the field of the intersect between autism and mental health and IAYMH highlighted this.”
The conference amplified the voices of those with lived experience, with global leaders coming together to discuss youth mental health. The feedback and enthusiasm received from delegates further validated the importance of peer-led initiatives in transforming support for young people.
Toucan remains committed to embedding lived experience in all aspects of its work, ensuring that young people’s voices continue to drive meaningful change in mental health care.
If you are interested in joining our Experts by Experience at Toucan, visit: Experts by Experience | Toucan – West Midlands CAMHS Provider Collaborative