This year our MHANI Symposia return to Belfast and Derry-Londonderry. The Symposia take place at the Nerve Centre Derry-Londonderry on Friday 8th May and on Tuesday May 15th at the Duncairn, Belfast. We are indebted to the Mayors of Belfast and Derry-Londonderry for their support.Our symposia feature keynote speakers from a diverse range of contexts including the arts, mental health, wellbeing, voluntary & community sector, and education, including significant learning from those with lived experience informing academic research. The symposia will provide challenging and enlightening presentations, forums for dialogue & creative exchange, challenge stigma, and celebrate the power of creativity, self-expression and the arts upon our mental health and wellbeing. Our symposia provide insights that deal compassionately and intelligently with the stigma associated with talking about our mental health.