EUROPEAN FAMILY THERAPY ASSOCIATION
CONNECTING FAMILY THERAPISTS AND TRAINERS
Qualitative research in mental health: trajectories towards a new era
QRMH8
The incidence of mental health problems continues to increase worldwide with untold and often ignored negative effects on the social and economic wellbeing of individuals, families and society. This is in part due to major demographic and epidemiological transitions. Statistics are expected to continue to rise as suicide, premature mortality rates linked with mental disorders or dementia are still not included in the global burden of mental health problems (The Lancet Commission on global mental health and sustainable development 2018).
The 8th QRMH conference is seeking to bring together qualitative researchers who are studying aspects related to mental health in different cultural contexts. It will be convened on the island of Malta, in the middle of the Mediterranean basin. The geographic location of the conference will allow us to reach out to researchers in neighbouring states, including countries in the Middle East & North Africa (MENA) region, as well as those situated in Europe, whilst welcoming participants from all over the world.
The conference will adopt a human rights based approach highlighting the right for support and care, the right to dignity and freedom and the rights of vulnerable populations such as those who are fleeing from conflict and war. We are looking for contributions that reflect the realities present in different cultural contexts and provide insight into innovative research being carried out in the respective areas around the world. Such research is expected to address current challenges with regard to causation, gaps in prevention, intervention including E-mental-health, various treatment methods and rehabilitation as well as quality of care.
We are interested in discovering how we as researchers are responding to current mental health challenges, and the extent to which we are prepared to address them in our times.
