~WFMH Celebrates its 50th Anniversary Year in 1998~
The Federation was founded in 1948, the same year as WHO and UNESCO, two UN organizations with which WFMH has had a long association. It was also the year of the UN Declaration on Human Rights. Our founding was part of the international movement to encourage peaceful and constructive relationships among nations in the years after the Second World War.
The Federation’s 50th Anniversary will be celebrated worldwide throughout 1998, with activities at the international, regional, national and local levels. The co-ordinator of anniversary celebrations is WFMH Honorary Secretary Dr. Max Abbott, Dean of the Faculty of Health Studies at the Auckland Institute of Technology in New Zealand.
The program of events will address the theme for the anniversary year – “Mental Health into the 21st Century.” Specific objectives include:
* raising the profile of mental health throughout the world
* celebrating the first 50 years of WFMH and honoring those who have contributed to its past accomplishments
* reflecting on the Federation’s central mission
* assessing progress in major areas of mental health worldwide and identifying key issues for the 21st century.
International Events
On 21 October 1998 a reception will be held at Lancaster House in London, to be followed by a two-day conference on 22-23 October to examine progress on WHO’s program “Nations for Mental Health.” WFMH was founded in October 1948 during a conference at the Ministry of Health in London, and the Ministry has given its support to the 1998 celebration. Attendance at the reception and conference will be by invitation.
Other events with an international focus are currently under consideration for Cairo, Maastricht, and New York and/or Washington, D.C. Further information will be provided in the next Newsletter.
Regional Events
Cairo, Egypt, April 1998 (date to be announced). Eastern Mediterranean Council Regional Conference.
Edinburgh, Scotland, UK, 2-4 July 1998. European Regional Council/WFMH Conference.
Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, 10-12 September 1998. Oceania Regional Conference hosted by the Australian National Association for Mental Health and the Tasmanian Mental Health Association in conjunction with the Australian and New Zealand Mental Health Services Conference.
Taipei, Taiwan, 26-27 September 1998. Western Pacific Regional Conference hosted by the Mental Health Association of Taiwan on the theme “Mass media and mental health.”
Local Events
Member organizations are encouraged to include the anniversary theme – “Mental Health into the 21st Century” – in their 1998 annual meetings and conferences, and to consider holding special events leading up to World Mental Health Day on 10 October 1998. (The specific theme for World Mental Health Day in 1998 will be “Mental Health and Human Rights.”) Please advise Max Abbott of your plans and suggestions.
Max Abbott
Fax: 64 9 307 9796.
Email: [email protected]