Conference addresses mental health strategies

The multi-professional audience, along with service users and carers heard presentations by speakers with international standing. The high calibre of the speakers was reflected in the number of delegates, with the conference fully subscribed well in advance.

Keynote speakers Professor Phil Barker and Poppy Buchanan-Barker provided an international overview of the model from its development in Newcastle to its implementation in other parts of the UK and in countries as far a field as Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Japan.

Academic Team Leader Bob Rankin explained, "The conference was arranged to enable us to acknowledge the growing impact of the Tidal Model and to celebrate the work and efforts of those who have worked with it to make a difference to the lives of individuals with mental health loss."

Afternoon workshops provided delegates with an opportunity to debate the merits of the Tidal Model within their own area of interest and the main emerging themes were also presented. The conference web site contains more extensive feedback and the discussion board will be kept live to encourage networking and can be accessed at www.dundee.ac.uk/medden/mentalhealthconference/