Newsletter

Editorial Board

Save the Date!

6th World Congress on Women's

Mental Health

22-25 March 2015

Keio Plaza Hotel

Tokyo, Japan

Co-Hosted by the 

International Association for Women's Mental Health and the

Institute of Women's Heath, Tokyo Women's Medical University

Future details to be announced.

IAWMH Leadership

For detailed info -  click here!

President:

Vice President:

Immediate Past President:

Anita Riecher-Rössler

(Switzerland)

Treasurer:

Secretary:

Silvia Lucia Gaviria (Colombia)

Advisory Board:

- Unaiza Niaz (Pakistan)

- Teri Pearlstein (USA)

- Donna Sewart (Canada)

About IAWMH

Established in 2001 to improve the mental health of women throughout the world,  the International Association for Women's Mental Health is a Not for Profit, Non-Governmental Organization.

The mission of IAWMH is:

-  To improve the mental health of women throughout the world.

 -  To expand the fund of knowledge about Women's Mental Health.

-  To promote gender-sensitive and autonomy-enhancing mental health

services for women.

-  To advance collaboration between Societies and Sections.

For more information:  www.iawmh.org  

27-30 October 2013

WMH-Section

Symposium "Does Globalization Affect Women's Mental Health"

Helen Herrman, Chair

Michaela Amering, Co-Chair

Speakers:

Marta Rondon

Donna Stewart

Unaiza Niaz

Symposium "Psychiatry in the Developing World"

Unaiza Niaz - presenting:

The Role of Women Professional & Non Professional Mental Health Careers in in the Developing World

Zonal Symposium on "Human Rights for Women Psychiatric Patients"

Donna Stewart - presenting

Chair and Presenter:

Teri Pearlstein

27-26 February 2014

Alkhobar, Saudi Arabia 

International Women's Mental Health Conference

Sponsored by Medical Services Department, Armed Forces of Arabia

Keynote Speakers:

Marta Rondon

Unaiza Niaz

Contact us:

 www.iawmh.org

Please note:

The views and opinions expressed in these reports are solely those of the individuals noted and are not necessarily either shared or endorsed by IAWMH, its leadership or members. 

Fall 2013

Welcome - Editor's Note

IAWMH Congresses have focused on the psychosocial, biological and clinical aspects of women's mental health from individual, family, community, society and global perspectives Social issues such as women's social roles, their upbringing and education, their relationships privately as well as at work and their careers, the discrimination, violence and abuse they often suffer from, as well as women's life cycle including childhood, adolescence, peripartum, menopause and aging are vital topics in understanding women's mental health; especially if they were examined from interdisciplinary and multicultural perspectives.

Women from a biological point of view are different than men, and worldwide they suffer from more discrimination and violence, which are significant risk factors for mental illness such as depression. Worldwide societies, therefore, should take active measures to reduce discrimination and social disadvantages of women to ensure their mental well-being.

Women psychiatrists are now leaders in their countries, especially in Latin, Central and South America, where several national  psychiatric association's presidents are women. 

We have a lot of news about our members activities in reports by Drs Silvia Gaviria, Marta Rondon, and Heba Habib from Egypt.

It is great to see that our members are more active in promoting WMH Issues, since last year! Please continue to send news and your academic & clinical activities to share.

We look forward to seeing you at the next IAWMH Congress in Tokyo, Japan.  Enjoy the season in your countries. 

CHEERS,   Unaiza Niaz

Welcome - President's Message

This is a publication we hope will strengthen our ability to deal with women affected by violence.

Finally, may I remind you that we are still collecting dues for the current year, the Association needs your contribution in order to continue providing a significant meeting point for mental health professionals who work in this field.

Warmest regards to all

Marta B. Rondon, MD

President, International Association for Women's Mental Health 

IAWMH REPRESENTATION AT INTERNATIONAL EVENTS     

Marta Rondon, IAWMH President, attended the 17th International Congress of the International Society for Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynecology (Berlin, May 22-14), as part of the  symposium "Gender and Mental "  convened by Heather Rowe. Dr Rondón spoke about Gender sensitive services, as part of a select group which addressed cutting edge topics: Dr. Vikram Chandra Muti and Dr S Carai (WHO) spoke about the prevention of child marriage; Dr Jane Fisher,  Monash University) gave a presentation on gender stereotypes and fertility care and Dr Heather Rowe (Monash University) dealt with the intimate partner relationship and postpartum depression.

- Medication Intervention for Perinatal Psychiatric Diosrders

- Managing Core Premenstrual Disorders: A Psychotropic Approach

- Eating Disorders and Reproduction

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From Silvia Gaviria, IAWMH Secretary:

IAWMH  to the CES University, supported a Perinatal Mental Health Seminar, which was held in strategic partnership with the institution "Buen Nacer."  The 2nd and 3rd of August this year, in Medellin.   We had an attendance of 112 people, including psychiatrists, gynecologists, psychologists, pediatricians and occupational therapists. 

We had as guests several international speakers, among whom was Dr. Hector

Martinez, Colombian pediatrician who developed the Kangaroo Method, the psychologists Alice Obeirman from  Argentina and Gabriel Bianco from Spain, the psychiatrists Gislene Valadares from Brazil and Angela Maria Velez neuropsychiatrist and sleep specialist from University of Texas, San Antonio. This event has aroused great interest in the need exists about  this issue in the field of prevention of mental illness and interdisciplinary work at this area.

It was highlighted issues as  humanized childbirth, prenatal stress approach, mother child bond, perinatal bereavement and How to help and support professionals who care for

women and children during the perinatal period.
 
The results have been very positive, we had attendees from various cities in Colombia, and also from Chile. Chile, a country with good indicators of development and who cares about prevention and health promotion. 

Since the subject begins to have relevance in the political and social agenda in Latin America, it is important to train health professionals in this area.

From Silvia Gaviria, IAWMH Secretary:

In the conference organized by the WPA in Nicaragua, which was held in the capital Managua, this congress had a forum for women's mental health and also  I  had one lecture.  Among the important issues raised in the evaluation was to include more mental health issues of women in the WPA upcoming events and also include the issue of women's mental health in the curriculum of the specialization of psychiatry. I think there was a very good assistance, exchange of ideas with the attending psychiatrist as well between the directives of the association in this regard.

Since January 2011, a lot of women are starting to be more involved in public life through political activities, social awareness campaigns, and development projects.

Women realized that they existed, that their voice was important. This explains the massive participation of women in the numerous elections that took place since the revolution.  Many feminist movements are sprouting in Egypt now.

The potential consequences of this socio-political change on women mental health are numerous. While it is possible that women will gain access to better health care and more freedom, it will probably take a while and demand the active participation of women and other citizens.  Several research projects are under way, fortunately, to look at the effects of these political and social changes on women's mental health.

[1]Egyptian NGO founded in 2006, with more than 70 active professional members, its main activities are: Counseling and treatment; Establishing prevention and community awareness programs; Developing training for psychosocial teams; Scientific research. P.H.A.S.E is a member of the World Association for Social Psychiatry (WASP)

To join & pay online - click here!

As you know, IAWMH has evolved from a group of mental health professionals interested in the topic to a solid organization that has already held five international congresses, published a book and gained recognition as a UN consultant. This growth has demanded a lot of effort and resources. We are all aware of your personal effort in participating in our activities, and we appreciate it very much.  We also have to cover our expenses and provide some logistics, and for this purpose, the Executive Committee has approved membership fees, as of May 2013.

To join & pay online - click here!

For a pdf of the membership form - click here!