The Australian Federal Police are hosting the second annual Global Mental Health Symposium on Wednesday, 16 May – Thursday, 17 May 2018.
The symposium will be held during National Police Week which attracts 25,000-40,000 Police Officers from around the world each year. The city of Washington, DC, also hosts a number of events in support of Police Officers from 12-18 May.
There has been a growing awareness of poor mental health in first responder agencies, which has resulted in increasing research and awareness to the tragic consequences of post-traumatic stress, depression and other side effects of conducting the vital work that officers do. But how do we start putting that research into practice within our agencies? The second Mental Health Symposium will aim to find a solution to this.
The GMHS will continue to assist policing agencies, commanding officers and support staff to respond to the challenges faced by police by reviewing practical policies and services. Outcomes of the conference will include to assist agencies to create practical policies to build resilience, policies to encourage officers to seek assistance for their own mental health, research to support officers in leadership positions to recognise and respond to requests for assistance from within their command, and for agencies to develop and implement practical and achievable policies from recruitment to post-retirement.
The AFP Global Mental Health Symposium 2018 will host policing agencies and subject matter experts from the local, state, federal and international levels of policing. Presenters and attendees have already registered from countries including Australia, Unlisted States of America, Canada, England, Colombia, New Zealand, France, and Hong Kong.
Some of our distinguished presenters will include AFP Deputy Commissioner Leanne Close, Commissioner Vince Hawkes from the Ontario Provincial Police, Chief Constable Andy Rhodes, Federal Bureau of Investigations Deputy Director David Bowdich, Lancashire Police Dr Ian Hesketh, National policing College, plus experts from the Department of Homeland Security, Las Vegas Police Department and many more to be announced!
For updates on the conference and to register your attendance please email Americas@afp.gov.au and provide your name, rank, agency, suitable email and role within your agency.
The symposium will be held at The Madison, a Hilton Hotel in Washington DC. To access the discounted Madison Hotel accommodation at US $309 per night + taxes, please book online using the following link: https://book.passkey.com/go/
Please also follow Commander Grant Edwards, Manager of the Americas Region on Twitter and Instagram at @CmdrAmericas for regular updates on speakers and announcements regarding mental health and the AFP Global Mental Health Symposium.
Please feel free to share the event and to join the online conversation by using the hashtag #AFPGMHS2018