Reports
See also:
From Margins to Mainstream, 10-12 Sept 2008
Report:
Dr Husna Razee
Conference Title: 5th World Conference on the Promotion of Mental Health and the Prevention of Mental and Behavioral Disorders: 10th – 12th September 2008
Author: Husna Razee
Introduction
This conference highlighted the major evidence-based determinants of mental health and mental illness which include social participation, freedom from violence, freedom from discrimination and promoting acceptance and diversity and the increased access to economic resources. In addition to these determinants the conference also included a methodology stream. This stream was further divided into the following themes:
Research and evaluation of socioeconomic determinants of mental health
Advocacy, policy-making and systems strengthening
Coalition building across diverse sectors and settings
Program design, implementation and transferability of learning and practice
Building capacity of workforces, communities and organizations
For me the highlight of the conference presentation was UK Amnesty International’s Executive Deputy Secretary General Kate Gilmore’s keynote plenary on global violence and human rights abuses, particularly the challenges of preventing gender based violence. Her presentation was powerful and further reinforced the role of politics in perpetuating gender based violence and the absolute necessity of political will for the prevention of all forms of abuse.
The outcome of the conference included a Conference Declaration in the form of a statement of common principles and future action to further the promotion of mental health agenda. Input for this charter (Melbourne Charter for Mental Health Promotion and the Prevention of Mental and Behavioral Disorders) was provided by conference presenters as well as participants.
To ensure that all voices were included in this conference in partnership with VicHealth, the Office for Youth, Multimedia Victoria, the Inspire Foundation, Student Youth Network and youthcentral had organized a number of activities to engage active participation of the youth. This included opportunities for young people to discuss and contribute to the deliberations around the conference themes prior to, during and after the conference. Youth Ambassadors were represented during the Charter Plenary and these representatives presented a report which highlighted the key points to be included in the Melbourne Charter. The facilitation of the active participation of youth at this conference is a mark of commitment to the spirit of the conference as well as recognition and endorsement of participatory action in promoting mental wellbeing.
The Melbourne Charter for Promoting Mental Health and Preventing Mental and Behavioural Disorders.
The draft charter presented to the conference identified the critical factors for national policy responses, priority sub-groups, strategies for promoting mental health and preventing mental and behavioural disorders, actions for decision makers, and actions for people working to promote mental health. The conference called upon national governments to prioritise evidence-informed mental health promotion and mental disorder prevention and reiterated the need for mental health promotion to be the responsibility of everyone. It further called upon all sectors and professionals to pay special attention to the mental health needs of those who are marginalised and/or disadvantaged due to their mental or physical health, religion, ethnicity, gender, income and or age.
Contribution of conference to my own professional development and my academic life
For me there were a number of gains. First the conference provided a direct benefit in that I was able to share my PhD research with a wide audience leading to immediate acknowledgement of my research by the South African Medical Research Council a group who is currently implementing a Global Sexual Violence Research Initiative. They were thrilled that for the first time there had been empirical research on gender based violence in the Maldives and they provided a link to my research on their website. This link would further widen the dissemination of my research findings.
Second this was an excellent exposure to the latest global evidence both published and as yet unpublished on issues related to social determinants of mental health and gender based violence. The numerous presentations offered an opportunity to further strengthen my understanding in these areas and broadened the scope of my current understanding on mental health promotion.
Third it provided me with practical resources and insights for my teaching in Phase 2 undergraduate medical curriculum. As a result of these I will be revising the lecture and tutorials I deliver in Society and Health 3. I am currently linked to the Sexual Violence Research Initiative and their mailing list which is an excellent resource.
Fourth it also provided me with practical resources and insights for my postgraduate teaching. One of these resources is QIPPS an online resource for Health Promotion professionals and since the conference I have been in touch with the QIPPS group and am exploring the possibility of how this resource can be made available to our students.