The Mental Health Chair cooperates with the organisation of the Spanish Congress on Behavioural Disturbances

The Mental Health Chair of the UVic-UCC will be cooperating with the organisation of the fifth Spanish Congress on Behavioural Disturbances, which will take place on 23 May at the Palau de Congressos de Barcelona (in the Fira trade fair area in Montjuïc). This event, which will be entitled "From services and programmes to rights," will overlap with the twelfth Congress of the European Association for Mental Health in Intellectual Disability, which will take place at the same venue, beginning on the same day and continuing until 25 May. The Althaia and AMPANS foundations are organising the Spanish congress, and provide continuity with the international Congress, working with the board of directors of the European Association for Mental Health in Intellectual Disability (EAMHID). The executive director of the chair, Pere Bonet, is one of the main promoters of the congress, as well as being one of the speakers.

The congress will be a meeting point and a forum for exchanging experiences between professionals and experts from various disciplines. Various presentations will look at models of care for people with intellectual disabilities who suffer from behavioural disturbances, placing special emphasis on respect for their rights. Various programmes and services in Catalonia, Spain and in other countries around the world will be considered, including the joint project in the social and healthcare fields by the AMPANS and Althaia foundations. Speakers include Roger Banks, President of EAMHID, who will be participating in a round table and presenting a practical session.

The biannual Congress of the European Association for Mental Health in Intellectual Disability will be visiting Barcelona for the first time. In debates and presentations of scientific studies by international speakers, the congress will consider how different services (educational, health and community) deal with behavioural disturbances. It will also reflect on how to improve the well-being and quality of life of people with intellectual disabilities and mental illness who suffer from behavioural disturbances.

Both congresses are aimed particularly at professionals in the areas of health, education and direct care, as well as people with disabilities and mental illness and their families. Those wishing to register must do so at the Behavioural Disturbances congress, or jointly for the Mental Health Congress, via its website.