We are delighted to announce that on the 08th of November, the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for 12 Step Recovery held an Evidence Session focusing on "Mental Health, 12 Step Recovery and Spirituality."

We are honoured to confirm the following speakers:

• Dr John Kelly, PhD, is the Elizabeth R. Spallin Professor of Psychiatry in Addiction Medicine at Harvard Medical School, a distinguished role that underscores his leadership in the field. As Founder and Director of the Recovery Research Institute at Massachusetts General Hospital, his pioneering work in addiction science and recovery, particularly his research on the components of recovery and the mechanisms of change, has earned him international recognition and numerous prestigious awards.

• Professor Wendy Dossett, Emeritus Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Chester, UK, and the Director of the Chester Studies of Addiction, Recovery and Spirituality Group, with a particular focus on the language of religion and spirituality in addiction recovery. Professor Dossett is also the Principal Investigator of the Higher Power Project, which explores the language of religion and spirituality in recovery from addictions.

• Professor Chris Cook, Emeritus Professor at Durham University, trained in medicine and specialised in psychiatry at the United Medical and Dental Schools of Guys and St Thomas's. His career focused primarily on addictive behaviour, particularly alcohol misuse. He held notable positions at University College London and the Institute of Psychiatry, conducting influential research on genetic predispositions to alcohol dependence. Professor Cook was instrumental in creating the positional statement on spirituality for the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

Dr Samantha Duggan, the All Party Parliamentary Group secretary for 12 Step Recovery, moderated the evidence session.

The goals of the evidence session are to:

1. Introduce the audience to the latest guidance on spirituality and mental health

2. Equip senior professionals with evidence to support the inclusion of spirituality in emotional well-being

3. Familiarise senior professionals with the 12 Step approach to spirituality

We were not able to record the evidence session due to restrictions within the House of Lords, but you can download the presentation deck below - "Mental Health, the 12 Steps & Spirituality", it contains the key points that Prof. Christopher Cook, Prof. Wendy Dossett and Prof. John Kelly presented throughout the event.