Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) has announced some of the key international speakers for the fifth Qatar International Mental Health Conference, to be held at the Westin Hotel, on December 2 and 3.
Dr Zeina Chemali, director of the Neuropsychiatry Clinics and Training in the departments of psychiatry and neurology at Massachusetts General Hospital; Colm McDonald, professor of psychiatry at National University of Ireland, Galway and consultant psychiatrist, West Galway Mental Health Services; Sube Banerjee, professor of dementia and associate dean at Brighton and Sussex Medical School; and Prof Unaiza Niaz ,director of the Psychiatric Clinic and Stress Research Centre in Karachi, Pakistan, are among them.
“The Qatar International Mental Health Conference is the premier conference in the Arab world on this topic,” said Dr Suhaila Ghuloum, senior consultant psychiatrist at HMC’s Mental Health Service and chairperson of the mental health conference.
“This is the fifth event organised by HMC to promote learning and international best practice exchange among healthcare professionals with an interest in mental health in this region.”
Dr Ghuloum explained mental health research is so essential but as yet underrepresented in this region. “A core objective has been to encourage more research initiatives. This year’s programme features several oral sessions which will showcase the research and quality initiatives in Qatar and from the region; and our aim is to use the conference as a platform to explore and promote research collaborations.”
Prof Peter Woodruff, chair of psychiatry and medical director of the Mental Health Service at HMC, explained: “Mental illness is common across the world and can have a major impact on people’s lives and those of their families. Research in understanding the causes of mental illnesses and the best ways to treat them is essential to provide the most appropriate up-to-date treatments and services.”