Bringing together researchers, clinicians, and those with lived experience to launch new resource aimed to better understand dissociation and depersonalisation
A University of Birmingham–led event has brought together researchers, clinicians, and people with lived experience to launch a new resource aimed at helping young people, carers, and professionals better understand dissociation and depersonalisation.
The online webinar - Invisible Barriers, TikTok, and Talking About It: What Young People (and Mental Health Professionals) Need to Know About Dissociation - took place on 13 November 2025 and marked the launch of the Understanding Dissociation and Depersonalisation booklet.
Hosted by the University in collaboration with Unreal and the McPin Foundation, the event attracted over 200 attendees from across the UK and internationally. It emphasised how early access to evidence-based information can be transformational to young people experiencing dissociation – and explored how the topic is discussed online, how professionals can support those who experience it, and how lived experience can help shape future approaches to care.
Dr Emma Černis, Clinical Psychologist and Assistant Professor at the University of Birmingham, led the discussion on recent research findings and the motivations behind creating the new resource.
Dissociative experiences are more common than people realise. It’s important for young people to understand that dissociation is not a sign of being broken - it’s often a warning sign that they’ve been carrying too much stress for too long. Young people are already talking about dissociation online, and we have a responsibility to make sure what they find is compassionate and accurate.
The event was chaired by BBC journalist Kathryn Stanczyszyn and featured speakers from clinical practice and lived experience communities, including Joe Perkins, author of Life on Autopilot and Trustee of Unreal; Gwendalyn Webb also from Unreal; Dr Claudia Hallett, Principal Clinical Psychologist and Clinical lead of the Depersonalisation and Derealisation Disorder Service at South London and Maudsley NHS Trust; and a young person involved in co-producing the booklet.
Lived experience and professional insight need to be in the same conversation. What’s exciting about this project is that it was created with young people, not just for them.
Young people are faced with extraordinary challenges whilst navigating mental health and dissociation online. There is such an overload of information available instantly, all of the time - and it’s very common for it to be unverified, contradictory or unhelpful. The importance of professionals engaging in conversations with young people to provide safe, accessible and accurate information & guidance cannot be understated
Many mental health professionals feel uncertain about discussing, assessing and treating dissociation. This booklet offers people struggling with dissociation al ideas for how to start supportive conversations with others about their experiences
The Understanding Dissociation and Depersonalisation booklet provides evidence-based, accessible information for young people. It is freely available to download and aims to reduce stigma and increase coping by helping young people recognise dissociation as common and understandable.
Click here to download the booklet
Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychology
Dr Emma Černis is a clinical psychologist with expertise in complex mental health difficulties. Her research focuses on understanding dissociative experiences from a cognitive-behavioural perspective.
