Australia and India joining forces to fight a global epidemic

An Australian consortium of mental health experts will co-host a three day conference in Delhi, India this week. The conference will involve mental health leadership from 16 countries in the Asia Pacific region working together to find solutions for the growing global epidemic of mental illness. Asia-Australia Mental Health (AAMH) is a consortium of the University of Melbourne's Department of Psychiatry and Asialink, and St Vincent's Melbourne. In partnership with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare India, and the National Institute of Health and Family Welfare India, AAMH will co-host a three-day conference in Delhi, from 17-19 February 2011 called Building Partnerships in Community Mental Health. Assistant Vice Chancellor of the University of Melbourne, Professor Bruce Singh who will represent the University of Melbourne at the opening ceremony of the conference, said mental health is increasingly posing a tremendous socio-economic burden. 'The University is proud to be involved in this national consortium and international effort to reduce the burden of mental health issues in India and in our region.' 'This inaugural partnership and event has the potential for the University of Melbourne and its partners to have strong engagement with the Government of India and substantial involvement of influential stakeholders and community in India,' he said. Director of Asia Australia Mental Health, Associate Professor Chee Ng also of St Vincent's Melbourne and the University of Melbourne, said AAMH is involved in a major new initiative to strengthen India's community mental health system and reduce the enormous mental health burden. 'The February meeting in Delhi will be used as a platform to launch the expansion of India's community mental health program,?