The annual B.C. Concurrent Disorders Conference, hosted by PHSA's BC Mental Health and Substance Services, is dedicated to advancing knowledge and building capacity among mental health and substance use professionals who treat people with complex concurrent disorders. A concurrent disorder describes when a person has both a mental illness and a substance use problem.
The effects of concurrent disorders are far-reaching and impact individuals, families, and entire communities, resulting in the need for integrative service delivery models. The conference offers an opportunity to inspire hope and build a better future for people living with mental health and substance use issues, and their families.
This year's conference theme was 'Beyond Crisis: Working on the Continuum of Care.' The conference was held virtually in partnership with UBC’s Faculty of Medicine, Dept. of Psychiatry, on March 28, 2024.
The conference once again proved to be a triumph, attracting 1,200 attendees from across British Columbia and Canada, along with other global regions including Argentina, England, India, and Morocco. Speakers and participants came from a wide variety of academic and professional backgrounds, united in a desire to inspire action, to drive positive change, and to contribute to the best possible care for people with complex concurrent disorders.
2024 keynote speakers, from left: Brian Rush, Daniel Vigo, Vijay Seethapathy, Naweed Syed
Recordings will be made available in the near future on the BCMHSUS Centre For Learning website. Please stay tuned.
2023 keynote speakers, from left:
David Nutt, Nel Wieman, Christian
Schütz
The theme for 2023 was “Best and promising practices: understanding and celebrating the emerging practices in concurrent disorders in B.C., Canada and globally.” The effects of concurrent disorders are far-reaching and impact individuals, families, and entire communities, resulting in the need for integrative service delivery models.
The third annual conference, held on March 9, 2023, included a full program of keynote speakers, panel discussions, and breakout sessions. You can access recorded sessions at the links below:
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Introductions & Welcome (Dr. Vijay Seethapathy, Jennifer Duff, Susan Wannamaker, Dr. David Byres, Honourable Jennifer Whiteside)
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Indigenous-Led Interventions: Indigenous Mental Wellness from the Front Line (Cassie Michell [Bader] – Moderator, Elder Gerry Oleman, Audrey Ward)
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Equipping Teams with Skills in Concurrent Disorders (Justine Dodds – Moderator, Rick Johal, Samantha Robinson, Fabienne Hargreaves, Kris Bews, Asha Maharaj)
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Effectiveness of Psychotherapies in Daily Clinical Practice (Dr. Daniel Vigo – Moderator, Dr. Heather Fulton, Dr. Terri-Lee Seeley, Dr. Heather Fulton)
