Speakers

Lauren’s personal experience with mental health services inspired her to return to education as a mature student, earning a BSc in Psychology and a Postgraduate Certificate in Specialist Adult Mental Health. This lived experience profoundly shapes her commitment to supporting individuals facing mental health challenges. As an Assistant Psychologist, Lauren played a pivotal role in launching a mental health crisis line and a drop-in support hub, offering vital assistance to individuals in self-defined crises. She provided psychologically informed interventions that ensured immediate, compassionate care, empowering individuals with tailored, evidence-based support to help them regain stability. In adult community mental health services, Lauren worked with individuals experiencing severe and enduring mental health difficulties, advocating for preventative interventions to improve outcomes and enhance the effectiveness of mental health systems. This focus on early intervention led her to primary care, where she now serves as a CYP (Children and Young People) Social Prescribing Team Leader. In this role, Lauren combines trauma-informed psychoeducation and practical coping strategies with traditional social prescribing, helping young people and families engage with community-based support to better manage their challenges. Lauren is passionate about neurodiversity and preventative mental health care, with a particular focus on early intervention and inclusive services. Her work promotes understanding, resilience, and advocacy, ensuring mental health care is responsive to the diverse needs of the young people and families she supports.