The School of Social Work at Algoma University recently hosted the second annual International Conference on Mental Health and Addictions on its Creekbank Site.
The ICMHA hybrid conference facilitated a series of presentations and panel discussions featuring an opening statement from Michael Tibollo, Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, highlighting the importance of facing mental health and addiction directly and collaboratively.
Registrants joined sessions and panels focused on engaging the causes of mental health and addiction issues. Some of the key topics explored included climate change, social media, intersectional pandemics, substance use and harm reduction, schooling and education, and many more.
"Universities must take an informed leading role in the research, conversations, and applications of uncovering causes, risks, and effective treatments for mental health and addiction," said Dr. Dionisio Nyaga, Chair of the International Conference and Assistant Professor of Social Work at Algoma University. "Algoma University's International Conference on Mental Health and Addictions brought together scholars, practitioners, and researchers with the community to engage on the mental health and addictions concerns affecting many Racialized and Indigenous People. We need to rethink how we can work together to respond to issues impacting so many individuals and communities."
The conference was organized by faculty, staff and students in the School of Social Work at Algoma University in collaboration with the five keynote speakers leading the conference. The keynote speakers led conversations focused on creating capacity building, mobilizing knowledge, and taking social responsibility and action toward serving marginalized communities in the world of a pandemic, specifically COVID-19.
The Featured Keynote speakers included:
- Michael Yellow Bird, PhD; Dean and Professor of the Faculty of Social Work at The University of Manitoba
- Rose Ann Torres, PhD; Director of the School of Social Work, Assistant Professor at Algoma University
- Michael Sitawa, PhD; Senior Researcher at The International Peace Support Training Centre
- Chris Doran, PhD; Professor of the Department of Social Sciences at the University of New Brunswick
- Tamari Kitossa, PhD, Associate Professor of the Department of Sociology at Brock University
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