From Margins to Mainstream
Melbourne, Australia, 10-12 September 2008

For the First Announcement/Call for Papers, click here

The Fifth World Conference on the Promotion of Mental Health and Prevention of Mental and Behavioural Disorders will take place in Melbourne, Australia, on 10-12 September 2008. The partners who founded the conference series are the World Federation for Mental Health, The Carter Center Mental Health Program and The Clifford Beers Foundation of the United Kingdom. They are joined for the 2008 conference by VicHealth (The Victorian Health Foundation) in Melbourne, which is leading the Host Conference Planning Committee. Irene Verins is the focal point for VicHealth’s conference team, which includes Lyn Walker and Kenton Miller. Prof. Rob Moodie and Prof. Helen Herrman from the University of Melbourne head the International Scientific Committee.  The venue is the Melbourne Convention Centre, well known for its excellent facilities.

The theme “From Margins to Mainstream” was chosen to indicate that promotion and prevention have moved out of the margins of the public health agenda to become firmly established in the mainstream research, policy and practice arenas of various disciplines.

Abstracts

The abstract submission deadline is coming up fast—March  17, 2008.   Abstracts must be submitted online, and the complete instructions are in the First Announcement/Call for Papers (see above).  Abstracts are required for the seminar sessions that will each have four presenters, and also for workshops of 40 minutes for specialist groups, and for the poster sessions.   The International Scientific Committee invites presenters to join together to submit a complete seminar session around the same themes/determinants.  Notification of acceptance will be sent out by 4 April.

Conference Framework

The framework of the 2008 conference will be built around four determinants—social participation, violence, discrimination and poverty, and five methodologies—research and evaluation; advocacy; coalition building; program design and implementation; and building the capacity of workforces, communities and organizations. The organizers would like to see abstracts that link one of the four determinants to one of the methodologies/strategies (the Call for Papers provides information about this). Abstracts focusing on one determinant or methodology only will also be accepted.

Additionally, the structure of the conference will be built around producing a Charter for Mental Health Promotion and Prevention of Disorders which will reflect core principles recommended by plenary speakers and those who submit abstracts. A working group will guide and monitor the Charter development process and the program will include daily sessions at which the Charter’s content will be advanced. The planners intend that preparation of the outcome document will provide momentum not just to the conference but to the growth of alliances afterwards.

Registration

The closing date for Early Bird Registration (AUS$480; approx. US$425 at the mid-December 2007 exchange rate) is 28 May 2008. All speakers must register by that date in order to be included in the program. Regular registration (AUS$600; approx. US$532 at the mid-December 2007 exchange rate) closes on 15 July. Late registration will be charged from 16 July to 9 September. The registration fee includes the cost of the conference dinner on 10 September.

Side Events

The Global Consortium for Promotion and Prevention on Mental Health will meet on 9 September in Melbourne in conjunction with the conference, and the World Federation for Mental Health’s Board will also meet in Melbourne that week. A number of groups and networks are currently planning side activities to take advantage of their members’ presence at the conference.

Conference website: www.margins2mainstream.com

Conference Office:
Kim Stevenson
Think Business Events
PO Box 415
Ascot Vale VIC 3032
Australia

Phone: 61 3 9370 1265
Fax: 61 3 8610 2170

Email: info@margins2mainstream.com