Every year, St Patricks Mental Health Services host their Founder’s Day conference to recognise and contribute to the continued legacy of its pioneering founder, Jonathan Swift.

Taking place virtually from 9.15 am – 1.30 pm on Friday, 27 November 2020 the event explores the future of mental health in Ireland, looking at the key features of an excellent mental health service, particularly when considering this year’s new government and national mental health policy, as well as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Register at: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/founders-day-2020-shaping-the-future-of-irish-mental-healthcare-tickets-125487459369

Former United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health, Dainius Puras, will join as a keynote speaker for this event. Other speakers include:

• Mary Butler TD, Minister for Mental Health and Older People
• John Farrelly, Chief Executive Officer (CEO)of the Mental Health Commission
• Fiona Coyle, CEO of Mental Health Reform
• Mary Favier, Immediate Past President of the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP)
• Mark Smyth, Senior Clinical Psychologist with Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and President of the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI)
• Joseph Duffy, CEO of Jigsaw
• William Flannery, President of the College of Psychiatrists of Ireland
• Dr Amir Niazi, National Clinical Advisor and Group Lead for Mental Health in the Health Service Executive
• Martha Griffin, Chair of the Peer Support in Mental Health Programme in Dublin City University and a peer educator with the Recovery College.

Further speakers and contributors will be confirmed in the coming weeks. This half-day conference will highlight a comprehensive range of perspectives, with each speaker presenting a short 10-minute talk that concentrates on what they feel are the key areas for consideration in mental health services

The annual conference brings together national and international academics, clinicians, service users and carers, and marks a major event in the Irish Continuing Professional Development (CPD) calendar. Details of CPD points will be confirmed shortly, but will be available from the ICGP, the PSI and the Irish Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy.

Due to the COVID-19 public health restrictions, this conference will take place online. Registration is free, but essential. A link to join the online event will be sent to everyone who registers ahead of its scheduled time.

Register at: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/founders-day-2020-shaping-the-future-of-irish-mental-healthcare-tickets-125487459369