The Global Mental Health group from the University of Toronto’s Department of Psychiatry and the Office of Transformative Global Health from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health are organizing a global mental health conference to take place in Toronto from May 6-8, 2015 to look at the theme of lessons in global mental health initiatives for local benefit. There is growing acknowledgement worldwide of the need for concerted action on mental health and for reducing the gap in mental health research and support between richer and poorer countries. Canada has a long history of global health involvement, but as a country where one in five people experience a mental health or addiction problem each year, we are faced with a number of important questions: How can we combine global responsibilities with meeting local needs? What is the relevance and value of involvement in global mental health for Canadians? Is there a way to accelerate the knowledge exchange between global and local mental health initiatives for mutual benefit?
This conference will bring together perspectives from policy, health, arts, and community, among others, to better evaluate Canada’s current role in this evolving field, identify opportunities for collaboration and initiate a conversation on formulating a global mental health framework for Canada.
Over the three days, the conference will have a series of plenary talks by notable figures, presentations by Canadian and international researchers, opinion leaders and students, and thought-provoking discussions. Plenary speakers include mental health advocate Margaret Trudeau and acclaimed filmmaker Deepa Mehta. Invited talks will be given by Dr. David Goldbloom (CAMH and former chair of Mental Health Commission of Canada), Dr. Barry Pakes (University of Toronto, Dalla Lana School of Public Health) and presenters will speak to Malaysia, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Nicaragua, India, Ghana, and Viet Nam highlighting, among others.
Registration is now open. Please visit the conference website for details and abstract submissions.