National Drug and Alcohol Service Expansion Conference

Sometimes I reflect on how lucky I am to be alive, how blessed I am to have a career, purpose and meaning in my life.

I am extremely honoured to be a keynote speaker next week at the National Drug and Alcohol Service Expansion Conference alongside Professor John Marsden.

Next week I have been asked to share my own personal and professional journey of recovery, as well as interview clients whose life has been saved by meaningful vocation and all that it brings.

This is the beginning of expanding our pioneering work with evidence based supported employment in mental health services into addiction services across the UK.

A short exert from my keynote-

‘Essentially as IPS practitioners we believe it is the opportunity itself that breeds the recovery and recognises that mainstream opportunities bring personal fulfilment, a sense of purpose, a sense of identity, friendships, relationships, structure, achievements, financial independence and a meaningful role in society giving life meaning beyond illness and disability’’

It’s time for corporate, private, public, small and medium businesses and enterprises to accept people of all status and standing, from CEO to frontline staff all have hidden battles.

We don’t need to stigmatise people with diagnoses. But understanding equality and human rights and being prepared to support the unique challenges we face as human beings, is essential for the future of workplaces everywhere.

Please join me in wishing people well as they learn to reintegrate into workplaces everywhere after this global trauma with compassion, love, genuine positive regard, basic humanity and support.

You don’t need to be a doctor to save lives, the gift of support and compassion comes in many forms.

With deep gratitude I wanted to tag some of those who have supported my journey the last few years. At times I have felt like giving up, but your gestures of support have been pure magic to me. Thank you 🙏🏻
( many more, please excuse if I haven’t added you – you are all in my heart and mind) – Sadie Restorick MSc MABP Prof Stoffel Grobler Nika Grobler Caroline Walker Dr Cyrus Abbasian Stacy Thomson Silja Litvin Caroline Hounsell Andy Shaikh Harry Singha Rachel Russell ACC April Doty Sarah Bingham Geoff McDonald Rob Stephenson⁷ 🐙 Dr Rachel Morris Dr Sarah Goulding Gary Johnston Lynne Miller (wk) Julia Stapleton Martina Gibbons Carole Spiers 🎤 Stress, Wellbeing, Organisational Change Speaker Deborah Edwards Deborah Stevenson Katya Miles Nuzhad Chagan Ryan Briggs DipFA Dr Adam Harrison Rash Patel Clare Concannon
Chloe Lemmon Julia Dorrington Tanya Dorrington Sally Dorrington Simon Scott-Nelson (F.ISP) Christopher Rose
The whole team at SWLSG mental health trust