EASPD conference hosted in Bratislava | MICE News

The conference was titled Transforming mental health and psychosocial disability support

Bratislava recently hosted the EASPD conference, focusing on transforming Mental Health and Psychosocial Disability Support. Hosted in Bratislava, Slovakia, between 20 and 21 May 2024, the conference addressed the critical issues stemming from a mental health system rooted in a medicalised paradigm.

Attendees could explore how society can move towards the provision of person-centred, community and recovery-based mental health services rooted in human rights principles. The event was hosted by DoubleTree by Hilton Bratislava, a sought-after hotel among event organisers in Bratislava.

One of the highlights of the conference was a panel dedicated to the global context of mental health. It included renowned experts: Olga Kalina, Chair at European Network of (ex) Users and Survivors of Psychiatry (ENUSP), Claudia Marinetti, Director at Mental Health Europe, Dikaios Sakellariou, Consultant on Disability, World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe, Catherine Carty, UNESCO Chair Manager at Munster Technological University (MTU, and Elena Kopcová, General Director at TENENET.

The conference was co-hosted by the European Association of Service Providers for Persons with Disabilities (EASPD), TENENET, and SocioFórum and supported by the World Health Organization (WHO). The European Association of Service Providers for Persons with Disabilities (EASPD) represents the interests of over 20,000 social care and support service providers for persons with disabilities across 41 countries.

Tenenet is a Slovak organisation whose work encompasses providing employment and social services for disabled individuals, implementing legal protection for children, fostering educational programs, collaborating with domestic and foreign partners on projects, and functioning as an association of citizens.

SocioFórum is a Slovak umbrella organisation bringing together NGOs in the social field that support people at risk of social exclusion. Their members provide social services, social and legal protection of children, and employment services for persons with disabilities.

EASPD Innovation Awards

Within the framework of this conference, EASPD hosted the 2024 iteration of its Innovation Awards. This edition honoured best practices in the field of Mental Health and Psychosocial Disability Support.

The 5 winners received an award during the Conference as well as one travel grant of up to €600 and a conference fee waiver for participating in the 2024 EASPD Slovakia Conference on ‘Guaranteeing Choice & Control: Transforming Mental Health and Psychosocial Disability Support’. Winners could present their work at a workshop and stand during the conference to promote their organisation and practice.

Learn more about the conference here.