Pre-Conference Workshops
Developing Modern and Comprehensive Policies and Programmes for
Mental Health
Gregor Henderson
National Programme Leader for the National Mental Health Development Unit’s (NMHDU) Well-being and Population Mental Health Programme
| Date | 17 November 2010 |
|---|---|
| Time | 0900-1200 |
| Venue | Wrest Point |
Workshop overview
In this workshop Gregor will facilitate a wide ranging discussion in what it
might take to develop and implement truly integrated and comprehensive
modern mental health polices and programmes that have an impact across the
life course and adhere to principles of social justice and equality.
Drawing on international examples of good and promising practice, the
workshop will provide a stimulus and inspiration to those working in, using,
developing and planning local mental health care, services and supports. Please
come to the workshop prepared to share your views and experiences.
Therapeutic Work with Ambiguous Loss Associated with Mental Illness
Kanthi Perera, M.S.W.
Senior Clinical Social Worker, Subiaco Community Mental Health
| Date | 17 November 2010 |
|---|---|
| Time | 1300 - 1600 |
| Venue | Wrest Point |
Workshop overview
Ambiguous loss is a specific, relatively rare type of loss where there is no validation or clarification because of some situational feature that makes it impossible for families to obtain factual information surrounding the event. Research on stress and trauma has found that none is as unmanageable and traumatizing as the stress of ambiguous loss (Boss, 2006). Current theories, rituals and community support only address clear-cut loss such as death. People experiencing a mental illness and their families have been left to cope with the stress and trauma of ambiguous loss associated with their illness with little or no acknowledgement by service providers. This workshop is aimed at filling this gap.
Aim:
- To offer participants a framework for understanding the concept of ambiguous loss.
- To explore effective strategies for practice.
Learning outcomes:
At the conclusion of the workshop, participants will be able to:
- Understand the concept of ambiguous loss.
- Understand how ambiguous loss relates to stress and trauma.
- Develop a theoretical framework for understanding the impact of ambiguous loss on a person with a mental illness and his/her family.
- Identify specific skills of working with people experiencing the trauma and stress of ambiguous loss.
- Identify how their own self-awareness will impact on their work with people experiencing ambiguous loss.
This will be an interactive workshop and participants need to be aware that the exercises and discussions could bring up feelings of grief and sadness. It is therefore recommended that participants have support services in place, should they need it.
Thresholds of Consciousness and Yoga
Dr Usha Sundaram
| Date | 17 November 2010 |
|---|---|
| Time | 0900 - 1200 |
| Venue | Wrest Point |
Therapists in Mental Health often face a crisis. It is important to know how to weather a storm when it arises. Yogic techniques help us see disrupting patterns and work out healthy ways to coming to terms with limitations and aspirations.
Yoga talks of Seven Dimensions of Consciousness that all human beings move in and out of, often unconsciously, in day to day behaviour. These dimensions will be explored with special reference to the 3rd and 4th dimension, [ Karana and Deva sharirams]. These deal specifically with the unconcious collective Memories that are Genetic and cultural and which determine much of our emotions, deeper feelings that are not accesible to logic, analysis, or reflection through known channels of understanding.
The practices of Meditations while making coloured traditional yogic patterns were born of meticulously documented experiential perceptions in the minutest details by competent teachers over 5ooo years with a passionate desire to end suffering, mainly when one rushes into areas inadvertently without conscious preparation. The struggle then is with protective energies that prevent deeper movement . These are called the guardians of the threshold.
The Patterns are called Yantras. The Yantras associated with the dimensions of consciousness will be discussed and a Specific Yantra which deals with the thresholds between dimensions will be worked upon by the attendee in a Meditative session.
Each participant will be supplied with a piece of white paper 3ft by 3 ft to draw a Yantra on, coloured sand (white, green, pink, red, yellow [500gms each]), pencil, scale, a tea light candle and a match box.