Mental Health Research Conference Draws Leaders from the Global Mental Health Community

November 17, 2008

Romeo Dallaire to discuss mental health in the military

Banff… More than 400 people from the provincial, national and international mental health community will gather in Banff, November 19 – 21 to discuss how research can further advance the mental health of populations at the 4th annual Alberta Mental Health Research Showcase. Some of the topics and presentations will include:- Suicide prevention in youth
– The impact of early childhood on the mental health of children
– Mental health and addictions in aboriginal communities
– Housing for people diagnosed with schizophrenia
– Women’s stories of recovery from eating disorders
– A person’s lifelong battle with stigma: from childhood to adulthood
– Mental health in the workplace
– Stigma and the health system

The keynote speaker at the showcase is Lieutenant-General, the Honourable Romeo Dallaire, (Retired), Commander of the United Nations Observer Mission – Uganda and Rwanda and the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda from July 1993 to September 1994.

Dallaire is currently a Special Advisor to the federal Minister responsible for the Canadian International Development Agency on matters relating to War Affected Children around the world, as well as the Minister of Veterans Affairs Canada on matters relating to serving and retired members of the military and their families. In his keynote presentation he will discuss mental illness in the Canada Armed Forces and its impact on families.

“The Mental Health Research Showcase has established itself as the premier learning and networking event for researchers, service providers and policymakers in mental health,” said Ken Hughes, Board Chair of Alberta Health Services, who will open the conference on Wednesday morning. “The level of expertise and interest this conference attracts is truly remarkable and signifies the importance of mental health issues in today’s society.”

For further information on conference presentations and speakers, go tohttp://www.buksa.com/showcase/docs/08FinalProgram.pdf.

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Media inquiries may be directed to:
Korey Cherneski
780 415-1227