The 13th International Mental Health Conference will be held from the 6th to the 8th of August 2012 at the Outrigger Inn (formerly Holiday Inn) Gold Coast, Qld. The theme is “Positive Change; Investing in Mental Health” – visit the Australian and New Zealand Mental Health Association website for more information: http://anzmh.asn.au/conference/index.html
Mental health awareness and well being strategies are urgent public concerns. Mental illness has the third highest burden of disease in Australia with approximately 45% of adults experiencing a mental illness at some stage of their lives, including alcohol or substance abuse disorders. The 13th International Mental Health Conference will focus on the complex mental issues affecting the elderly including depression, dementia, delirium, paranoid disorders and anxiety. It will also explore the mental health issues of young Australians (aged 18 — 24 years) struggling with schizophrenia, depression, suicidal thoughts, bipolar, anxiety disorders and drug use and drug induced psychosis. With 7% of Australian children and adolescents (aged 0 — 17 years) experiencing mental health problems and only one in four receiving professional health care, a positive change is long overdue.
