This Saturday, some of the region’s most respected mental health and addictions professionals will come together with families and consumers with the goal of developing the best possible services and outcomes for clients.
The 8th Annual Family Conference is an informative day-long event that showcases personal stories of recovery from mental illness alongside groundbreaking clinical and practical advice and resources for mental health consumers, their families, and professionals alike.
“We have a wealth of MH&A expertise in VCH. The Family Conference provides an opportunity to share professional, family and lived expertise among all those who attend,” said Gloria Baker, Manager, Kitsilano-Fairview Mental Health Team and organizer of this year’s event. “This conference places an emphasis on collaboration to promote awareness and understanding of mental health and addictions and to promote family involvement in services.”
Saturday’s event features no fewer than 15 VCH mental health professionals who are directly involved with the conference in a variety of capacities. It will also feature a dozen family members and service users who have volunteered to share their stories about their personal journeys through the mental health and addictions service system.
The annual Family Conference is sponsored by Vancouver Coastal Health, the Family Advisory Committee, the British Columbia Schizophrenia Society and the Mood Disorders Association of BC.
The event kicks off with an interactive presentation by keynote speaker and UBC researcher Dr. Mahesh Menon, entitled Biochemistry to Belief: Biomedical and Psychological Intervention in Psychosis. Dr. Menon’s seminar explores an integrative approach to the treatment of and recovery from serious mental illnesses.
Award-winning mental health blogger Natasha Tracy delivers the second keynote address, Living with Bipolar Disorder. Natasha shares her own experiences living with Bipolar Disorder Type-II, while providing factual information about the illness itself.
Additionally, participants can join the following breakout sessions:
- Families Living in a Parallel World of Concurrent Disorders
- Opportunities for Further Education
- Best and Emerging Practices
- Care for the Caregiver
- Closing Session: Family Perspectives
The conference runs from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 27 at the VGH Paetzold Theatre, 899 West 12th Avenue. Seating is still available, but pre-registration is required. Visit www.annualfamilyconference.com for more information.
To view select sessions from last year’s Family Conference, click here.