ESMHD Congress 2010

The 8th European Congress on Mental Health and Deafness will be held at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, United Kingdom on 2nd - 5th November 2010. The theme of the Congress, 'Healthy Deaf Minds in Europe', serves as the agenda for an exciting programme providing a forum for addressing mental health issues and developing links between all of the various professionals working in the field of deafness, such as psychiatrists, psychologists, psychotherapists, counsellors, therapists, nurses, social workers, interpreters, educationists, deaf people, carers and the community.

The underlying themes of the Congress are preventing mental ill health in the deaf community and promoting deaf mental wellbeing. The Congress takes the form of a collection of Symposia each focusing on a specific area of expertise within mental health and deafness including: Deaf Adult and General Services; Deaf Children, Young People and Families; Deaf Elders; Forensic Services for Deaf People; Community and Primary Care Services for Deaf People; Developing Mental Health Services for Deaf People. Within these Symposia there will be a collection of presentations, debates, films, workshops, exhibits and posters.

Alpha Hospital Bury provides highly specialist services for women and men who are Deaf and require Low or Medium Secure care. Deaf services at the hospital provide culturally and linguistically appropriate forensic mental health care services. Patients are empowered to participate actively in their treatment and move on through the care pathway in a meaningful and successful way.

Current data suggests that Deaf patients at Alpha Hospital Bury are able to progress through services at a comparable rate to their Hearing counterparts; a significant achievement considering historical evidence shows that Deaf people with acute mental health problems admitted to specialist mental health services are expected to take twice as long as hearing patients to progress through the care pathway.

In keeping with the desire to minimise Length of Stay, Alpha Hospital Bury works in partnership with rehabilitation and open services to support the transition process and offer after care therapeutic sessions on an individual basis.

Alpha Hospital Bury prides itself on a service that employs highly experienced professionals with over 20 years’ experience in the field of Mental Health and Deafness. A dedicated team of Deaf professionals, both hearing and Deaf, offer specialist therapeutic and communication support in the Deaf patients’ first language, British Sign Language.

Alpha Hospital Bury recognises the need to be embrace the introduction of National CQUIN measures aimed at improving patient care and evidence based practice. Alpha Hospital Bury is currently working with the NHS to develop equity and access for Deaf patients in relation to clinical progress of outcome measures.

Alpha Hospital Bury delivers a Deaf specialist Sex Offender Treatment Programme on an individual and group basis. Management of Potential and Actual Aggression (MAPA) training is delivered by staff who are accredited licensed trainers consistent with the Positive Options curriculum. Both programmes are adapted to include specific modules relating to the care and treatment of Deaf patients.

Alpha Hospital Bury is proud to announce the development of a purpose built Low Secure Development situated in its own grounds outside of the Medium Secure hospital complex. The development will enable us to expand the number of low secure Deaf beds available affording many of our medium secure patients the next step on their care pathway whilst offering continuity of care.

The Call for Papers has now closed, however we may be able to include extra presentations in the programme if they are of particular relevance. Please contact us if you would like to submit an abstract for consideration. Abstracts of Films and Posters are still being accepted. For details go to the Call for Papers page

Dear Colleagues and Friends,

We would like to extend you a warm invitation to join us on 2 - 5 November 2010 to celebrate together an ESMHD Congress in the historic city of Cambridge in the United Kingdom. On behalf of the organising committee, I invite you to be part of this exciting event, focusing European attention on the mental health of deaf people and their families.

The theme of the 2010 congress 'Healthy Deaf Minds in Europe' serves as the agenda for an exciting programme. We look forward to greeting you personally in Cambridge for what will be an unforgettable international meeting.

The congress provides a forum for addressing mental health issues and developing links between all of the various professionals working in the field of deafness, such as psychiatrists, psychologists, psychotherapists, counsellors, therapists, nurses, social workers, interpreters, educationists, deaf people, carers and the community.

You can register for further information by emailing the Congress Organiser: Jonathan Isaac, General Secretary of BSMHD

Or better still, book your place now.

We look forward to seeing you in Cambridge, United Kingdom, in November!

Kind regards,
Ines Sleeboom
Chair, Congress Organising Committee