HEALTH DEPARTMENT CONVENES MENTAL HEALTH COFERENCE: 24 -25 APRIL
Pretoria: The Department of Health in collaboration with the Foundation for Professional Development (FPD) will next week (24-25 April), convene a two-day mental health conference to bring multiple stakeholders under one roof to explore a variety of solutions to improve the current mental health pandemic.
Mental health has been identified as a key area of public health concern in South Africa and globally by several authors and research findings.
South Africa is amongst the global countries ranked high when it comes to mental wellbeing, and the country was found to have scored the lowest average score on the mental health wellbeing scale.
The 2023 conference will be held under the theme: “Join the movement– Time to talk about mental health”, which serves as a clarion call for stakeholders to join hands with government, private sector and civil society to advance mental health and increase access to mental health care.
The conference will be addressed by Deputy President, Paul Mashatile and Minister of Health, Dr Joe Phaahla, and attended by over 600 delegates from all walks of life, including the provincial MECs for Health, Academics, healthcare professionals, Statutory bodies, Policy makers, Civil society leaders, Healthcare providers, Donors and media experts who will share their experiences and best practices.
Members of the media are invited to attend the conference scheduled as follows:
Date: Monday, 24 – Tuesday, 25 April 2023
Venue: Emperors Palace, Johannesburg – Gauteng
Times: 8h00 – 16h00
Some of the critical focus areas to dominate the discussions during the breakaway sessions include:
TRACK 1: CLINICAL, PSYCHOLOGY & BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCES – Mental health and traditional, AND Psychotic disorders –
TRACK 2: TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION – Healthcare system enhancement / implementing tech into care pathways / enabling practitioners
TRACK 3: POLICY AND PUBLIC HEALTH – Mental health crisis among youth
TRACK 4: BEST PRACTICES & PROGRAMMES – Children and Youth Mental Health
TRACK 5: COMMUNICATIONS AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT – The role of the media in shaping the narrative around mental health
Please RSVP to Tlou Tlhako on 071 382 7425/ Tlou.tlhako@health.gov.za
