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Mental Health Services Find Common Ground in Canberra

In the most recent National Study of Mental Health, nearly a quarter of all Australians aged between 16 and 25 years old had at least one consultation with a health professional for their mental health in the last year (ABS)​​​. This highlights the growing and future demand on people providing mental health services to Australians. The Mental Health Services (TheMHS) Conference 2024 - 'Finding Common Ground' will be held in Canberra from August 27th to 30th, bringing together over 1,000 delegates.

Clinicians, managers, consumers, carers, researchers, educators, and policymakers will meet in the nation’s capital to learn how differing views can be united for wider impact. TheMHS (pronounced ‘themes’) Learning Network, the organisation behind this conference, is a not for profit, organisation dedicated to mental health services. Their events facilitate discussions and collaborations to challenge the current mental healthcare system.

"TheMHS is delighted to be holding our annual conference in Canberra this year. It is a time of major reform in the mental health space, and we believe it is significant that our conference is situated close to key decision-making centres. Canberra itself is a great destination with plenty to offer delegates beyond the conference itself," said Peter Gianfrancesco, Executive Director of the Mental Health Services Learning Network.

The 34th annual Conference will be held at the National Convention Centre Canberra, offering workshops, symposiums, panels, speakers, an awards ceremony, and live-streamed presentations. The program reflects the conference's messaging by also including wellbeing options for delegates such as ‘The Man Walk’ and ‘Running for Resilience.’

“We have received substantial support from several leading mental health organisations in the ACT, as well as from both the ACT Government and the Commonwealth Government, particularly the Australian Department of Health & Aged Care,” Mr Gianfrancesco continued.

“TheMHS is more than a conference; it’s a community of people that has been gathering and influencing for more than 30 years."

For more information on TheMHS Conference 2024, visit www.themhs.org/about-themhs.