13th International Mental Health Conference

The 13th International Mental Health Conference will be held from the 6th to the 8th of August 2012 at the Outrigger Inn (formerly Holiday Inn) Gold Coast, Qld.
The theme is "Positive Change; Investing in Mental Health" and the Call for Papers is now open: www.mnzmh.asn.au/conference
Mental health awareness and well being strategies are urgent public concerns. Mental illness has the third highest burden of disease in Australia with approximately 45% of adults experiencing a mental illness at some stage of their lives, including alcohol or substance abuse disorders.
 
This conference will focus on the complex mental issues affecting the elderly including depression, dementia, delirium, paranoid disorders and anxiety. It will also explore the mental health issues of young Australians (aged 18-24 years) struggling with schizophrenia, depression, suicidal thoughts, bipolar, anxiety disorders and drug use and drug induced psychosis. With 7% of Australian children and adolescents (aged 0-17 years) experiencing mental health problems and only one in four receiving professional health care, a positive change is long overdue.
 
The conference will focus on:

• State, Federal and International initiatives addressing mental health needs
• Planning and initiatives of the COAG task force.
• Research validation of early intervention strategies and treatments for drug induced psychosis, trauma and depression.
• Research validated treatments designed to facilitate recovery, particularly in the areas of depression and trauma.
• Initiatives and best practice in suicide prevention
• Examine and critically review the effectiveness of preventative approaches used in the field of mental health