CHANDIGARH-Three day international conference on public mental health was inaugurated today at Bhargava Auditorium, PGIMER, Chandigarh. On this occasion Director, PGIMER, Prof. Vivek Lal and Chief Guest, Dr Afzal Javed, President of World psychiatric Association inaugurated the conference by lighting the lamp along with Dr D Basu, Organising Chairman & Head department of Psychiatry PGIMER, Chandigarh. The opening ceremony was graced by former HODs of the department of Psychiatry and senior faculty members and staff of PGIMER. Approximately 900 delicates from 15 countries across the globe have registered for this mega event.
On this Grand event the oldest living learned Legend in Psychiatry Dr Norman Sartorious delivered the lifetime achievement oration. The department of psychiatry, PGIMER has been made one of the nine collaborative centre to bolster the agenda of *"Public mental health of the people by the people and for the people."* Various experts and distinguish dignitaries across India and globe have graced the occasion and participated in various symposia and panel discussions during day one of the conference.
An exhibition has also be made in Zakir hall to highlight the posters made by young students from different parts of Chandigarh for mental health on the theme of *HOPE*. The patients who lived with experience of Mental Health issues especially the children and adolescents also participated in this poster making competition. More than 75 entries were received all of them were given the certificate of participation by the organizers.
On this occasion, *Chandigarh charter* for agenda of public mental health as a Priority has been released by
Dr Jonathan campion from Oxford University, London.
Some Highlights of the conference where
Discussion on Primary, secondary and tertiary model of Mental Health Services suitable to low and middle income countries (LAMIC)
Rights of persons with not only mental illness but also people with day to day stressful living conditions like experience and adversities.
Leveraging technology to reach the unreached.
Dr Akhilesh Sharma, Organizing Secretary of DJICMH proposed the vote of thanks after the inaugural session.