The MAP’s 6th Annual Conference 2021 – Shaping the Future: The Mental Health of Our Nation

The Maltese Association of Psychiatry (MAP) held its 6th Annual Conference on the 22 November 2021.

This year follows almost two years of uncertainty, stress and challenges posed by the COVID-19 Pandemic. However, this gave us the opportunity to take a step back, reflect and consider our priorities as individuals and as a professional group. The importance of mental health has been highlighted by many, yet the solutions to challenges are in part unclear.

This year, the focus was on what is to come – Shaping the Future: The Mental Health of Our Nation. The conference featured international keynote speakers. Local research was showcased with speakers from different professional backgrounds giving a multidisciplinary perspective of issues that we face going forward, and how to tackle them.

The topics covered included holistic approaches in nation-wide strategy development and person-centred care; and more focused issues such as the effects of legalisation of cannabis, and the future in psychiatric treatment including psychedelics. Workshops were held to focus on practical techniques and solutions, which could be put into practice at the workplace, as well be utilised to advise the relevant authorities.