Queen Máxima to attend International Conference on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support
On Tuesday 8 October Her Majesty Queen Máxima will attend the International Conference on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Crisis Situations at the KIT Royal Tropical Institute in Amsterdam. The conference is being organised by Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Sigrid Kaag.
At least one in five people who have experienced conflict or disaster go on to develop a psychiatric disorder. Experts, policymakers, politicians and people with lived experience will speak at this international conference about the psychological impact of conflict, violence and natural disasters. They believe that mental wellbeing is a precondition for rebuilding societies after disasters. After the conference Queen Máxima will be speaking with representatives of NGOs and care workers about the importance of mental health and psychosocial care in crisis situations and areas.
Globally, there is a chronic shortage of care workers and specialists in this field. The two-day conference on 7 and 8 October is part of a series of international conferences underlining the importance of mental healthcare.