REPORT –Second conference of Volunteering and International Psychiatry
Special Interest Group -16.5.2014
Title-Spirituality, Disasters and mental health
Conference Organisers- DrsMandipJheeta, Sophie Thomson, Ashoq Singh, Peter
Hughes and Sue Duncan Administrator.
Background
This conference is the second conference of the Special Interest Group and theme
arose out of group discussion.
Aim of conference was
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Provide an interesting, scientific and motivating series of lectures and
workshops
Highlight IASC, Sphere guidelines and Psychological First Aid.
Develop a discourse on role of UK Psychiatrist in disaster settings in context of
UK-IETR. UK International emergency Trauma Register and work of Prof
Williams.
Discussion of role of spirituality in mental health and in disaster and vice versa
Poster display and competition
Launch of essay prize competition
Promotion of volunteering work in UK and internationally
Promotion of website, newsletter and twitter
Fundraising was not a primary aim
The programme came out of the conference committee input.
Summary of programme and speakers
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Opening Introduction – introduction by chair Dr. Peter Hughes
Spirituality –spirituality matters in working with people with mental health
difficulties– Led by Dr Sophie Thomson on importance of spirituality in mental
health in UK and beyond. Dr. Khurram Sadiq and Sylvia Khan spoke on Islam
and mental illness. Dr. Nwe Thein spoke on Buddhism and mental illness.
The heart of conversation- Prof Andrew Sims and Dr. David Sims on the
importance of the spiritual dimension in mental health and wellbeing worldwide.
2 interactive workshops –Do spirituality and religion really matter? Led by
Sophie Thomson. What role do mental health professionals have in disasters?
Led by Peter Hughes, Ashok Singh and Barbara Martini.
Disasters and mental health – Change of programme. Dr. Barbara Martini of
Turin speaks of disaster and mental health particularly from a WHO, IASC,
Sphere guidelines, PFA.
Terrorism and mental health- Dr. Fowad Kaiser. Fascinating background of
terrorism and mental health
Plenary seminar- What changes are needed in the way we work? Led by Dr.
Peter Hughes
Poster prize –awards to winner and runner up
Attendance
There were 66 attendees. These were mainly psychiatrists but also psychologists,
social workers and medical students.
Feedback
EXCELLENT
GOOD
OK
POOR
CONFERENCE OVERALL
11 (31%)
22 (61%)
2 (6%)
1 (3%)
VENUE
27 (75%)
9 (25%)
ORGANISATION
15 (42%)
18 (50%)
3 (8%)
LUNCH
12 (33%)
16 (44%)
6 (17%)
2 (6%)
VALUE FOR MONEY
16 (44%)
14 (39%)
3 (8%)
1 (3%)
ATTEND AGAIN
19 (53%)
9 (25%)
6 (17%)
1 (3%)
SPIRITUALITY MATTERS
5 (14%)
23 (64%)
5 (14%)
2 (6%)
HEART OF COVERSATION
18 (50%)
9 (25%)
8 (22%)
WORKSHOP
11 (31%)
14 (39%)
7 (19%)
2 (8 %)
DIASTER
11 (31%)
13 (36%)
5 (14%)
5
(14%)
TERRORISM
PLENARY
14 (39%)
15 (42%)
5 (14%)
4 (11%)
13 (36%)
6 (17%)
2 (6%)
Narrative feedback
More time for discussion
Better time keeping and some slides difficult to read
Disaster and mental health lecture on engaging, difficult to listen. Be more psychiatric
and less fluff regarding mental health.
Good few delegates reported that the terrorism lecture was difficult to understand.
Provide more training in psychological first aid.
Smaller workshops.
Time keeping
“come on Peter have your own talk, don’t take up time from others”
Finance
The full fee was £80 and a sliding scale for different cadres and students. There was
an opportunity for donations. From this the expenses were
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Honoraria
Expenses for speakers
Poster boards
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Catering
Expenditure was on honoraria for speakers, expenses, Poster boards, lunches and
refreshments.
Action plan from conference
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Present report to International advisory committee and place on VIPSIG
website
Follow up on workshop recommendations through VIPSIG meetings
Essay prize
Acknowledgements
We thank the Royal College of Psychiatrists for facilitating our conference at college
site. We thank Sue Duncan for all her support for conference. We thank Prof Williams
for inspiring us with the ideas that led to this conference and to Mark Van Ommeren
WHO Geneva. We thank all the speakers, participants and all the conference
committee especially the input of Mandip Jheeta without whom this conference would
not have been possible.
Dr. Peter Hughes
Chair of Volunteering and International Psychiatry Special Interest Group
APPENDIX
Feedback from workshops –disaster
A small majority in each group felt there was a role for a UK psychiatrist in disaster
setting but many had caveats. The dilemma was raised of parity of esteem vs. the
argument that the psychiatrist is taking the place of a trauma doctor.
Reflection on total chaos after disaster. Psychiatrists can mobilise resources available
through leadership role and expertise in psychosocial support, support for volunteers,
shelter, meet immediate needs, liaising with UN organizations and coordination of
effort, reassurance, normalizing things, enable religious support. Start building back
better process.
Attendance list
Dr K Ahmed
Dr E Akande
Miss Z Al-Rubie
Ms Z Aslanyan
Dr M Bakht
Dr M Bhamra
Dr J Byrne
Dr U Chockalingham
Dr V Chummun
Dr D Connolly
Ms A Darwin
Dr C Day
Dr H Dipple
Dr R Egan
Dr M Elphick
Dr R Farooq
Miss F Fawad
Dr H Foster
Dr R Fowler-Dixon
Dr J Geater
Ms A Harrison
Dr H Hayes
Dr R Howells
Dr P Hughes
Dr D Jackson
Dr S Jakhra
Dr A Jawad
Dr M Jheeta
Dr. F.Jonsson
Dr F Kaiser
Dr P Kheder
Dr Y Leshchynska
Dr N McCune
Dr A Mahmud
Dr B Martini
Dr S Meena
Dr D Menzies
Ms E Menzies
Dr A Meredith
Dr B Mullan
Rev L Murray
Dr S Nabi
Dr M Paramlall
Dr P Petrochilos
Dr R Poroohan
Dr S Pulapara
Dr R Rashwany
Dr T Read
Dr K Sadiq
Dr. A Sayed
Dr A Sharaf
Dr A Sharma
Dr Z Siddiqui
Prof A Sims
Dr D Sims
Mrs Sims
Dr A Singh
Dr A Singh
Dr K Sivakumar
Ms C Tan
Dr N Thein
Dr S Thomson
Dr C Timehin
Dr S Touzin
Dr C Vassilas
Dr S Zinna