"Change Practices: How We Make A Difference"

The intent of the Cross-Cultural Mental Health Conference is to promote ongoing dialogue between the mental health and addictions system and cross-cultural communities by exploring current issues and potential solutions/promising practices.

Who should attend this conference? This Conference is ideal for all professionals providing service, formally or informally, to immigrants and refugees, including health care practitioners, policymakers, settlement practitioners, volunteers, sponsorship agreement holders, educators, general practitioners, psychiatrists, multicultural liaison workers, translators, other human-related service providers, immigrants, refugees and consumers interested in the practice of Mental Health.

The CCMHS choses a specific topic to be discussed each year, with some of the previous themse being:

• Spirituality and Healing practices, an In-Depth Look
• Social Cohesion: Building Capacity for Culturally Responsible Communities
• Spirituality and Well being
• Immigrant & Refugee Men... Mental Health & Systemic Stressors
• Families in Transition: Strengths & Challenges
• Voices of Immigrant & Refugee Women: Learning from their stories
• Strengthening & Building Supports for Children & Youth
• Working Together to take action
• Refugee Mental Health: Moving Ahead
• Cross Cultural Interpreters.

Apply Today for the 6th Annual Soma Ganesan Spirit of Hope Award

The award recognizes an individual, program, non-for-profit agency or public institution within BC that has made a significant impact on improving the mental health conditions of immigrants and refugees. Last year, the Spirit of Hope Awards was awarded to Jim Siemens from ISSof BC for his outstanding work and contribution to new refugees and immigrants.

The Spirit of Hope Award nomination is open to anyone wishing to nominate an individual, a program or organization or a not-for-profit agency you feel deserves the recognition for their outstanding work in the Mental health community. For more information about the Spirit of Hope Award, please click on the SOH Award tab and apply today!! Submission deadline is September 1st, 2010.