Humanising Healthcare
Conversation Cafe
Round table discussions changing the culture of addiction medicine
Our Conversation Cafes are changing the way medics think about and approach addiction by bringing them together with people with Lived Experience in a series of round-table discussions.
Read about the story of the Conversation Cafe, or watch the video below to see what it's all about:
Most medical students will go through years of study and come out of medical school without a thorough understanding of addiction and recovery, even in Scotland where it's so critical. Scotland has had the highest drug death rate in Europe for seven consecutive years; in 2024, 1,017 people died of a drug death. But at the same time, it has flourishing communities of people in recovery from their addictions and sustaining new lives.
Our Conversation Cafes connect medical students with people in recovery – experts by experience. During our Conversation Cafes, students and people in the recovery community come together to learn from each other by listening, asking questions and exchanging stories.
The two-hour session begins with a 15-minute talk from a member of the community. After that, each group (made up of students and people in recovery) is presented with a question to consider. After a question has been discussed, the medical students move round the room, enabling a change in the groups. As the groups discuss each question, people can write down key words related to it, which are gathered together and displayed. These key words often guide the final part of the session, when everyone has a chance to share their thoughts on each question with the room as a whole.
The concept is simple but the shift in thinking and understanding that can come out of it is extraordinary.
Here is some of the feedback we have received from medical students:
“Speaking to people with lived experience was incredibly insightful. I learnt more in this session than I have in 4 years of med school when it came to addictions.” - Final year medical student, University of Glasgow
The insight (that we probably wouldn't get from lectures) is absolutely key to understanding & developing empathy towards people who've suffered addiction. - Year 3 medical student, University of Dundee
“This session was better than any lecture I've had. Speaking with people going through recovery is eye-opening and very much has changed my views on how as a future professional I can help.”
- Third year medical student, University of Aberdeen
“This session explored stigmas and allowed us to ask questions without judgement. I feel I have a better understanding of addicts' experience, how they got there and what I can do in the future. I think the experience is so useful in improving understanding and should be provided to all medical students.”
- Third year medical student, University of Glasgow
So far, we have run Conversation Cafes in four of the five medical schools in Scotland. The Scottish Government has endorsed the project and is supporting our ambition to embed it into medical curricula across Scotland. We have also run Conversation Cafes outside medical schools, for example at the Deep End GP Conference. After the session, one GP reflected: "I wish I had this opportunity 20 years ago when I first qualified as a doctor."
The University of Dundee first incorporated the project into its psychiatry curriculum in 2023, meaning that every student now has the opportunity to sit down and learn from people with lived experience. The universities of Aberdeen, Glasgow and St Andrews have followed suit, reaching almost nationwide coverage of medical students.
Conversation Cafes are facilitated by our trained volunteers. If you are interested in becoming a facilitator, you can [register your interest].
Our Conversation Cafe Co-ordinator, Zack Geary, would love to hear from you if you would like to attend a cafe or have any questions regarding the project.
