Mental illness is a common experience amongst all age groups, with the highest rate of individuals between the age of 16 and 24 years and one in five adults experiencing a mental illness each year.

This presentation will sensitively and compassionately discuss what is known about stigma associated with mental illness, when people are in distress and the beliefs that the wider community have traditionally attached to what it means to have a mental illness.

This talk will discuss these issues and the reasons, ways and benefits of reducing stigma. It is anticipated that the audience will be entertained and depart optimistically regarding the benefits of stigma reduction at individual, community and society levels.

BIO

Professor Procter is UniSA’s Chair: Mental Health Nursing and leader of the Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Research Group. The strategic intent of his work is to partner with people and organisations who can use research to make a difference outside of academia, particularly in consumer and carer engagement and public policy. His most recent book Mental Health: A person centered approach (Cambridge) is in its second edition. Professor Procter was a reviewer of the former disgraced and now closed Oakden Mental Health Facility in South Australia. The Oakden Review sparked an independent inquiry into the practices of the Commonwealth Aged Care Quality regulator, a Senate Select Committee Inquiry and a South Australian ICAC investigation.  In 2017 Professor Procter was recipient of SA’s highest mental health honour, the Dr Margaret Tobin Award, and the SA Health’s Mental Health Excellence Award for Partnering with Lived Experience.

6:30 PM @Republic - Cabinet Room (Upstairs)- 120 Magill Rd, NORWOOD