World Mental Health Conference

Delegates to the 2011 World Congress of the World Federation for Mental Health in Cape Town can look forward to a rich and diverse Scientific Programme. The core programme which starts on the 18th October and runs until Thursday 20thOctober, has five keynote lectures a day. Eminent keynote speakers will discuss a wide range of topics reflecting every aspect of the congress theme “African Footprint in Global Mental Health”. Issues of concern in Africa and other under-resourced areas of the world, such as poverty, HIV and Aids and the African ethics of interconnectedness are addressed together with global phenomena like terrorism, tsunamis and migration.

The daily programme starts and ends with parallel sessions. Twenty symposia, 21 free paper sessions, 16 workshops and 4 video-presentations are spread out over ten parallel sessions twice daily. The early afternoon is dedicated to a meet-the-author poster session, with a new set of posters each day.
Two features unique to this congress provide a very different insight into the mental health world. Psychiatric Art of a high calibre, submitted by South African service users, will be on exhibition for the duration of the congress. And on two evenings selected South African commercial films with a strong mental health impact will be screened.

The pre-congress programme takes place all day on the 17th October - the Second Summit of the Global Mental Health Movement (separate registration) - followed by the Opening Ceremony of the Congress at 1800. The Closing Ceremony is on Thursday 20 October at 1730. The post-congress programme – visits to local facilities (separate registration) – takes place on the morning of 21st October.
I look forward to welcoming you to Cape Town in October. It is time for Spring madness!

Brian Robertson
Chair, Scientific Programme Committee