5th Annual 'Making Sense of Psychosis' Conference
The International Society for the Psychological Treatments of Schizophrenia (www.isps.org) and the University of Auckland will host about 100 local and international researchers, clinicians and people who
experience psychosis from Nov. 14 to 16, at the University's Tamaki Campus. With branches in over 20 countries the ISPS
promotes the 'talking therapies' for people who experience hallucinations and delusions and a greater understanding of
the psychological and social causes of psychosis.
The 5th annual conference of ISPS-NZ will be opened by Green Party mental health spokesperson Sue Bradford. The opening
keynote address, on 'Psycho-social risk factors for psychosis', will be given by Professor Richie Poulton of Otago
University.
Another keynote speaker, Mary O'Hagan, a previous Mental Health Commissioner, will recount her personal journey through
psychosis, explaining the implications for services.
Among the international speakers is nurse Paul Hammersley, of the University of Manchester, who has been instrumental in
the Campaign to Abolish Schizophrenia as a Label' (CASL), which highlights the unscientific nature of the construct as
well as its highly stigmatizing impact on users and carers. http://asylumonline.net
PH: "I have heard a lot about the excellent psychosis services in New Zealand and the annual ISPS conference over there.
I am looking forward to meeting kindred spirits and stealing some kiwi ideas to take home" Paul.Hammersley@manchester.ac.uk
The first day is devoted to skills workshops on how to work with voice-hearers and how to address the spiritual issues
that are frequently a feature of psychosis.
Seminars on Thursday and Friday include: 'Crazy talk or a crazy world? A deeper understanding of psychosis', 'What the
public thinks about schizophrenia' and 'Recovery from trauma induced psychosis' by Peter Bullimore, a prominent member
of the Hearing Voices Network in the UK, featured last month in the British Guardian newspaper http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2007/oct/09/medicineandhealth
ENDS