INFORMATION FOR PRESENTERS

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING - JULY 16, 2008

Vienna Medical University, Austria

Währinger Gürtel 18-20

ROOM HS 1, 5:15 PM

SPECIAL INTEREST MEETINGS - VIENNA, 2008

RISC

Sunday July 13, 2008

3:30-5:00

HOTEL DE FRANCE / NOT CONFERENCE VENUE

Administrators Meeting

Monday July 14, 2008

2:30-3:30

Room KR 11

Forensic Nurses Meeting

Monday July 14, 2008

5:15-6:00

Room KR 11

Mental Health Courts Meeting

Tuesday July 15, 2008

5:15-6:00

Room KR 11

 8th Annual IAFMHS Conference

Vienna, Austria

Vienna, Austria

The interface between forensic and

general mental health services

The relationship between forensic mental health and general mental health is a complex issue in many countries. There has been a tendency for the two systems to establish separate identities, yet many patients move between the two. Despite huge advances in psychiatry, psychology and psychopharmacology, general mental health systems have failed to improve the quality of life of many people with serious mental illnesses.  As a result, most countries have experienced a steady increase in the number of individuals with mental disorders entering the criminal justice system. Forensic mental health has developed significant expertise in risk assessment and the management of the most dangerous patients. How can general mental health benefit from this expertise? What needs to be done to optimize patient care in the general mental health and forensic mental health systems? How can these systems dialogue to mutual benefit? This conference will explore this issue, and through dialogue between forensic and general mental health professionals as well as criminal justice professionals will attempt to find solutions.