“Creating Futures 2012: PNG” was the largest mental health conference to date in Melanesia. This paper describes the history, purpose and content of this initiative as a means to facilitate capacity building in Papua New Guinea (PNG), increase binational cooperation and develop a regional mental health network.
Conclusions:
Fifty Australian professionals were recruited to work with PNG colleagues to develop a suite of 20 workshops on locally identified themes. Over 300 delegates from across PNG and the western Pacific attended the four-day meeting, which was framed by Professor Vikram Patel in a series of presentations on global health. Feedback from PNG delegates and potential ongoing activities are described.
PatelV. Where there is no psychiatrist: a mental health care manual. London: Gaskell, 2003.
2.
Government of Papua New Guinea. National Health Plan 2011–2020: transforming our health system towards Health Vision 2050. Port Moresby: National Department of Health, 2010.
3.
KingELupiwaT. Systematic literature review of HIV and AIDS research in Papua New Guinea 2007–2008. Port Moresby: National AIDS Council, 2010.
4.
NobleFS. Long-term psychiatric care in Papua New Guinea. Psychiatr Bull1997; 21: 113–116.
5.
JohnsonFYA. Ward six psychiatric unit at Port Moresby General Hospital: a historical review and admission statistics from 1980 to 1989. Papua New G Med J1997; 40: 79–88.
6.
Papua New Guinea Department of Health. National mental health policy. Port Moresby: Department of Health, 2010.
7.
Papua New Guinea Department of Health. National policy on traditional medicine. Port Moresby: Department of Health, 2007.
8.
MagaruM. Knowledge, attitudes and practices of caregivers of patients with schizophrenia in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. Pac J Med Sci2012; 10: 12–27.
9.
HEMI Study Team. Impacts of HIV/AIDS 2005–2025 in Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and East Timor: synopsis report of the HIV epidemiological modelling and impact study. Canberra: AusAID, 2006.
10.
SeraweS. Situation analysis on young men in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. Port Moresby: The Foundation for People and Community Development, 2006.
