Welcome to the Congress

Dear colleagues,

II Congress on Mental Health: Meeting the Needs of the XXI Century carries on the traditions of the I Congress held in October 2016 in Moscow. It has become a global interdisciplinary and intersectoral platform for discussing regional strategies in mental health care.

Traditionally, the II Congress is held at the initiative of the Russian non-governmental organizations which unite psychiatrists, psychotherapists, psychologists, educators, economists, lawyers, workers of art and sports with the support from the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Russian Federation, and the Ministry of Sport of the Russian Federation.  

The II Congress on Mental Health: Meeting the Needs of the XXI Century has the great honor to be co-sponsored by the major global professional organizations, including the World Psychiatric Association (WPA), the World Association for Psychosocial Rehabilitation (WAPR), the World Association of Social Psychiatry (WASP), the World Council for Psychotherapy (WCP), the Association for the Improvement of Mental Health Programmes (AMH), the International Social Security Association (ISSA), the International Association “Autism Europe”,  the International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics (IAGG-Europe Clinical Section), and the other ones.

May I take this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation to the heads of these organizations as well as to the members of the International and Russian Organizing Committees and to the Scientific Committee. They have designed a program which includes over 40 academic and cultural events and allows us to hold an in-depth discussion of the key topic of the II Congress - “Mental Health and Education”.

The II Congress on Mental Health: Meeting the Needs of the XXI century will bring together leading international experts from over 50 countries representing different fields of science and spheres of life.  This allows us to hope for the possibility of creating a global platform for exchanging international experiences and best practices on improving the education in mental health as well as building up a professional network and different forms of cooperation with NGOs and business communities.

I am pleased to note that the Congress is traditionally held on the eve of the World Mental Health Day, when the entire world is discussing the issues related to improving mental health and care practices. I hope that our work will contribute to fostering a positive educational environment and, therefore, promote mental health care and well-being.  

Dear colleagues, may I wish you every success in your work! 

I trust that you will find the Congress stimulating and rewarding, yet despite the busy schedule, you will spare some time to enjoy the beauty of Moscow in the fall!