Simulation Training in Focus at AEPNYA 2025: Maudsley Learning Shares Expertise in Barcelona

As part of Maudsley Learning’s ongoing efforts to promote simulation-based education in mental health, Dr Grégoire Billon, Senior Associate Faculty, contributed to the 68th Congress of AEPNYA (Asociación Española de Psiquiatría del Niño y del Adolescente) held in Barcelona in May 2025. This major event brought together clinicians, educators, and trainees in child and adolescent psychiatry from across Spain and Europe, representing a significant milestone in the development and consolidation of the field within the Spanish-speaking world. Under the leadership of Dr Laia Villalta (Head of Training, Mental Health Area, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu), Dr Billon co-delivered a keynote session alongside Dr Peter Deschamps (Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist and Head of Training at Karakter, the Netherlands), exploring the vital role of simulation training in developing the mental health workforce, with a focus on Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

Following the keynote, Dr Billon, Dr Villalta and Dr Deschamps co-facilitated a practical workshop offering CAP trainers a hands-on experience of a live simulated scenario. In a compelling demonstration, Dr Villalta and Dr Deschamps showcased their acting skills by portraying the nuanced and emotional dynamics of a family facing mental health challenges. The session concluded with a collective debrief, creating a valuable space to observe, reflect on, and discuss core principles of psychologically-informed debriefing and simulation-based education (SBE) design. This international contribution is another strong example of Maudsley Learning’s commitment to advancing clinical education through immersive, evidence-based methodologies and fostering global collaboration in mental health training.