Day 2 of three-day Together Against Stigma Conference: Healthcare providers, youth on the agenda as MHCC hosts world's largest international mental health stigma conference

OTTAWA, June 4, 2012 /CNW/ - Healthcare providers and youths will take centre stage on Day 2 of the world's largest international conference focusing on ways to overcome stigma towards people with mental health problems.

Nearly 600 of the world's top researchers, mental health professionals, policy makers and people with lived experience are gathering in Ottawa from June 4-6 for Together Against Stigma: Changing How We See Mental Illness — a three-day conference organized by the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) and the World Psychiatric Association Scientific Section on Stigma and Mental Illness.

Highlights of Day 2 of the conference include:

• Key themes to be examined by presenters during symposiums, workshops and discussions include building better mental health practices for healthcare providers and youth.
• Stigma knows no boundaries. Results of a World Psychiatry Association study that shows all countries stigmatize people with mental illness will be released. Renowned psychiatrists Graham Thornicroft, Tine Van Bortel and Norman Sartorius will lead a symposium examining global patterns of discrimination against people with depression from 2:30 p.m to 4:30 p.m.
• A symposium examines mental illness and substance abuse stigma among primary healthcare providers from 4:05p.m to 5:35 p.m.
• More detailed information about the conference agenda, presenters and events can be found at www.togetheragainststigma2012.ca.

Details for the 5^th annual stigma conference:

									What: Together Against Stigma: Changing How We See Mental Illness
									When: Monday, June 4 to Wednesday, June 6
									Where: Delta Ottawa City Centre, 101 Lyon St., Ottawa

The 5^th annual International Stigma Conference follows on the heels of the MHCC launching the country's first national mental health strategy (strategy.mentalhealthcommission.ca) last month and the recent World Health Assembly proceedings in Geneva.

Follow the event on Twitter at: #Stigma2012 and @MHCC_

INTERVIEWS

Members of the media are invited to attend conference sessions. Individual media requests for interviews with presenters, mental health experts and those with lived experience will be considered, schedule permitting.

MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID

Media representatives are also invited to attend one of two Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) sessions taking place: Tuesday, June 5, 7:30am-9am, Chateau Laurier (Parliamentarians and staff), and Tuesday, June 5, 7pm-8:30pm, Delta Ottawa City Centre, 101 Lyon St. (conference delegates including the Close family).  MHFA teaches people the skills to provide the early assistance that can help save a life.  So far 50,000 Canadians have been trained.

ACADEMIC PAPERS

A host of academic presentations will be released throughout the conference. Among the papers and presentations to be released today are:

• Evaluation of a New Mental Health Training Program for Canadian Military Personnel Returning from a Combat and Peace Support mission in Afghanistan.
• Coming out Proud.
• Addressing Stigma and Discrimination related to Mental Illness and Substance Abuse Issues.
• Stomping Out Stigma: Summit Conference for Youth.
• Global Pattern of Discrimination against People with Depression.

About the Mental Health Commission of Canada

The Mental Health Commission of Canada is a catalyst for change. We are collaborating with hundreds of partners to change the attitudes of Canadians toward mental health problems and to improve services and support. Our goal is to help people who live with mental health problems and illnesses lead meaningful and productive lives. Together, we are sparking change. The Mental Health Commission of Canada is funded by Health Canada.

The views represented herein solely represent the views of the Mental Health Commission of Canada.
Production of this document is made possible through a financial contribution from Health Canada.

Jacqueline (Jacquie) LaRocque, Ensight Canada

[email protected] (email preferred)

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