For the first time, Portugal will host the World Congress of Mental Health, from October 30 to November 1, in a joint organization between the Municipality of Barcelos and the World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH), with the partnership of the National Coordination for Mental Health Policies.
Over three days, experts from five continents will debate Mental Health and Sustainability. At this stage, around 400 registrations have already been confirmed, including academics, health professionals, institutional representatives, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders from Portugal, Argentina, India, Brazil, Nigeria, Mexico, Chile, Colombia, South Africa, and Egypt.
“Mental Health and Social Sustainability: a society and community-centered approach” is the theme chosen for this XXIV edition of the World Congress of Mental Health.
Barcelos, designated by the WFMH as the first World Capital of Mental Health for the period 2023 to 2026, could not miss the opportunity to be at the heart of this broad debate on policies, strategies, and best practices related to mental health and social sustainability, highlighting the role of the community.
The organization has already confirmed the participation of well-known figures such as Mark Humphrey Van Ommeren (World Health Organization – Geneva), José Luís Pedreira Massa (Spain), Joseph Knobel Freud (Spain – great-grandnephew of Sigmund Freud), and Paulo Amarante (Brazil – leader of deinstitutionalization in Brazil).
Also confirmed are Tsuyoshi Akiyama (Japan – president of the WFMH), Sabine Bährer (president-elect of the WFMH), Alberto Trimboli (Argentina – former president of the WFMH and its representative at the WHO), and Roberto Mezzina (Italy – former director of the Mental Health Department of Trieste and also WFMH representative at the WHO).
Invitation to participate
The Congress organizers have been engaging public institutions (local government, health services, schools, universities), private organizations (clinics, companies, NGOs), and civil society to become involved in promoting and participating in the event.
Mental health concerns everyone! This congress represents a unique opportunity for Portugal to host a global reflection focused on national and international public policies, best practices in mental health promotion, the provision of community-based mental health care, and structured psychosocial rehabilitation programs based on scientific evidence to meet the needs of people with mental health conditions, among other themes.
Since its creation, this biennial reference event has been held in 21 cities across 20 countries on five continents. This is the first time it takes place in Portugal, making the country the seventh in Europe to host the WFMH World Congress of Mental Health.
Currently chaired by Japanese psychiatrist Tsuyoshi Akiyama, the WFMH was founded in 1948 with the mission of promoting mental health on a global scale, particularly regarding the prevention of mental and emotional disorders, and ensuring appropriate treatment and care.
