Mental health of Kiwis to be discussed at conference

11 September 2013

Mental health of New Zealanders to be discussed at Auckland conference

The largest annual psychiatry conference in New Zealand will be held in Auckland next week from 16-18 September with more than 60 speakers including leading experts on areas such as psychosis, eating disorders, brain science, suicide prevention and criminal responsibility.

Convenor and Chair of the New Zealand Branch of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists Dr Rosie Edwards says this year’s conference ‘The shifting strands of psychiatry’ will be a great gathering of psychiatrists from across New Zealand. ‘With new developments in neuroscience the evidence base for psychiatry continues to grow, so it’s invaluable each year for psychiatrists to share the latest clinical learning around the effective treatment of mental illness’.

New Zealander Dr Murray Patton will be addressing the conference for the first time in his role as President. ‘With 20% of the population or 1 in 5 New Zealanders having some experience of mental illness within the past year alone, psychiatrists play a key role in helping our communities stay healthy.

‘Although New Zealand membership numbers are proportionately a small part of our binational College, New Zealand has contributed strongly to the College since its inception. In fact the first President of the College was a New Zealander, Professor Reginald Medlicott. I feel especially proud to be leading the College as we celebrate the milestone anniversary of 50 years.

‘I’m particularly proud to be talking about the importance of supporting carers with Judge Ken Mason. The role of carers and their contribution to mental health should not be understated.

Ø Stronger Together – launch of RANZCP position statement about supporting carers in the mental health system by Judge Ken Mason will discuss the important role carers play in supporting mental health treatment, and how they can contribute to psychiatry practice. (Tuesday 17 September 3.30pm)

Other sessions cover:
• The ‘Good Lives’ model of sex offender treatment
• Intellectual disability and criminal offences – assessment and support
• Does spotting your ‘big chance’ rely on your personality?
• Social media, social avatars and the psyche – is Facebook good for us?
• Smoking – the deadliest mental illness
• Remission in schizophrenia
• The changing face of eating disorders
• E-treatment for children and adolescents
• Suicide prevention – the role of e-treatments
• Supporting carers in the mental health system
• Child murders by mothers: Implications for prevention
• Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy - treatment for PTSD

Where and when: 16,17 and 18 September, The Langham, 83 Symonds Street, Auckland
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